With less than 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, it looked like the Houston Rockets were headed for their 16th straight loss to the Golden State Warriors. At the time, it was the longest active straight losing streak among the 30 NBA teams.

Trailing by a point and with the ball in the hands of Steph Curry – one of the greatest 3-point shooters the game has ever seen, with 3,825 three-point field goals made and counting – it looked like this as if the Rockets were destined for another near miss.

Curry, who was closely guarded by Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, used his patented back step to break free at the top of the key. Undoubtedly, Curry thought it would be the shot that would extend Golden State’s lead and likely eliminate the Rockets from the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup.

But Brooks, one of the stiffest defenders in the league, ensured Curry didn’t get a clean look at the basket. Houston’s veteran defensive ace effectively lured Curry into an early shot while simultaneously raising his hand to block any view of the rim, causing Curry to miss the shot.

Since arriving as a free agent in July 2023, Brooks’ calling card has been defending the opposing team’s best player, and he hasn’t disappointed.

“Dillon is as tough as they come and he doesn’t back down from anyone,” Green told Rockets Wire after the game. “When I saw him with Curry, I knew he was going to try his best not to give him a clean look, and that’s not easy with a player like that.”

The 2024-25 Rockets have already established themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. So it was only fitting that they came together when it was needed most in the final three minutes of Wednesday’s fourth quarter and held Golden State scoreless. That resulted in a 91-90 victory that sent Houston (17-8) into Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.

“It means a lot,” Brooks said when asked by Rockets Wire about how he can help his younger teammates win in a playoff-like atmosphere. “The work we put in and the trust we have in each other make a significant contribution to this.”

“Fred (VanVleet) and I have been saying this since we arrived. It took a year for them to see and feel the progress. It’s great to further and continue this experience of meaningful basketball.”

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This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ‘He’s not backing down’: Dillon Brooks bolsters Rockets’ elite defense