Five key takeaways from Houston's series-clinching win

The Rockets are officially moving onto the next round. But after making their fanbase sweat a few extra days with a loss in Game 4, how did Houston turn things around in time for Game 5?

Here's a look at five key reasons the Rockets won, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen:

"To move on, they had to get back to the defense that had been a key to their season. They tweaked the defense a bit, pushing the Mavericks back to the center of the floor after a season in which they had sought to keep teams on the side and force them toward the baseline. But mostly, they just became much more determined defensively. When they kept the Mavericks in the halfcourt, the Mavericks made just 26 of 81 shots."

Houston's defense was key last night, as it's been all year long. But if they're to defeat either the Spurs or Clippers in Round 2, they can't afford to take any possessions off on that end of the floor, let alone an entire night.

(h/t: Houston Chronicle)

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