As often as the Rockets had called on their small lineup, especially when needing a comeback, its best game might have been the previous meeting with the Raptors. The Rockets went from down 15 to a six-point win, playing the small lineup the final 20 minutes of the game.
That was before the solid play of Donatas Motiejunas and outstanding scoring of Michael Beasley, likely turning the small lineup into an emergency option in the final weeks of the season.
"Because our bigs are playing well, we'd prefer to stay with that rotation," Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.