With the Houston Rockets facing elimination Sunday night, Dwight Howard said the words: "We don't want to go home."
Little did he know they would be taken literally. After Howard and the Rockets scored a 128-115 win over the Golden State Warriors to avoid playoff elimination, the star center and hundreds of the team's fans were forced to remain at the Toyota Center well after Game 4.
The Rockets even flashed this warning in the game's waning minutes:
Toyota Center is advising fans to stay in seats after game due to severe weather outside. Be safe.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 26, 2015
Staying safe pays off for the fans as flooding in Houston continues. #WeCantGoAnywhere — Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 26, 2015
Howard used the time stuck at the Toyota Center for a meet-and-greet with Rockets fans, telling ESPN, "I can't go nowhere, so I'm with the fans. I hope everybody's safe right now and everybody stays off the streets."
Howard took pictures with fans and signed autographs for them. In fact, he was reportedly at the arena until well after 2 a.m.
"Sleepy... crazy.. but fine," Howard told reporters, including ESPN. "I'm enjoying myself with the fans."
They all had to remain in the arena because of six to 10 inches of rain that caused flooding in Houston streets.
The Rockets are trailing the Warriors 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals, needing an improbable rally to continue to make this a competitive series.
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