The last time a pinstripe No. 3 jersey took to the floor for the Houston Rockets, the uniform belonged to Steve Francis. Eighteen years ago — which marked the final time the Rockets wore the iconic jersey — Francis was entrusted with the daunting task of leading the franchise out of the Hakeem Olajuwon era into the post-championship rebuilding epoch.
It’s a transition only Francis could relate to inside the Toyota Center, while watching Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. lead the Rockets to a 118-116 victory over the Orlando Magic, en route to their fifth straight victory Friday night.