Mike D'Antoni: Series 'All About Toughness Right Now' After Rockets Game 4 Win

The Houston Rockets knotted the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece Tuesday night due to a resilient fourth-quarter showing in Game 4. After the 95-92 win, Houston head coach Mike D'Antoni said whichever team has more resolve in big moments will go on to win the series.

"It's all about toughness right now," D'Antoni told reporters at Oracle Arena. "It's gonna be spotty both ways. I think there was great basketball played on both sides—stretches of it. The rest of it was just gutting it out, finding a will, a way, a want."

In Game 4, that was true on several occasions.

Take the first quarter, for instance, when the Rockets fell behind 12-0 before clawing their way back with a 34-point second quarter to enter halftime up seven.

Then, after absorbing a haymaker from the Warriors in the form of a 34-17 third quarter, the Rockets responded by outscoring the defending champions in the final frame, 25-12, while holding them to 3-of-18 shooting.

The Rockets will try to wield the same mental fortitude Thursday when Game 5 tips off at Toyota Center.