Maurice Taylor wrapped Steve Francis in a tight hug and told him how wonderful he had been. Cuttino Mobley rocked backwards, eyes shut, with a finger pointing toward the Toyota Center ceiling and beyond. Jim Jackson walked off wearing a smile nearly as long as the arm he wrapped around Mobley's neck, confetti falling around them.
Doing it the hard way turns out to have its rewards.

Weeks after the Rockets could understandably assume they were a playoff team and five seasons since they were one, the Rockets surged through the second half Friday to a 106-103 win over the Denver Nuggets. With the Trail Blazers' loss in San Antonio, the Rockets are going to the postseason for the first time since 1999.

Their first-round opponent is yet to be determined. The Rockets, seventh, could fall into the eighth spot.

"It's been a long time coming," Rockets forward Kelvin Cato said. "We've had a 45-win season and have been sitting outside. It feels good, man. It feels good."