The Houston Rockets will put their NBA Cup lives on the line when they take on the Golden State Warriors at home on Wednesday night.

The Rockets have lost 15 straight times to the Warriors since 2021, including their most recent loss on Thursday at Chase Center in San Francisco.

In order to break the losing streak and advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas, Dillon Brooks must play for the Rockets.

“Expect Brooks to get the primary defensive assignment against Stephen Curry and, if the Rockets advance, to face either Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander in the semifinals. These matchups could be boom or bust for Brooks, who could either frustrate his opponents with his physical play or end up watching from the bench in foul trouble,” writes ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.

Either way, Brooks plays a big role on defense for the Rockets and he should look to make an impact one way or another.

This will also give the Rockets a chance to see how Brooks performs in an elimination game, which is why the team originally brought him to Houston. Being able to defend the other team’s best player is an important task, and Brooks will get that chance on Curry in the most important game of the season.