Up by four late in the game the Houston Rockets were sure they had this game won.  They were close to completing a sensational comeback overtime win, and soon the series would be tied two games a piece.

"Everybody was really happy," center Yao Ming said. "The victory was right in front of our face."

Outscored 9-1 in the final two minutes, the Rockets committed two turnovers in the final 77 seconds, then failed to secure the rebound that let the Lakers clinch the win 92-88, giving the Lakers a 3-1 lead as the series now heads back to Los Angeles.  One more Rockets loss and their season is over.

"It's the most painful (loss), especially at home, when you have the game right there in your hand and somebody takes it right away from you," Rockets guard Steve Francis said.

"If a couple things go a different way, if we just make a couple different plays, we hold on to the lead, and we've got it," Rockets forward Jim Jackson said. "It's a 2-2 series."