Dwight Howard: 'Game 5 won't be the last' for Rockets

After a convincing 27-point win in Game 4 on Sunday evening, all the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors need to do is win one of a potential three games to send the Houston Rockets packing from the postseason.

Considering how dominant Golden State was at Oracle Arena during the regular season (39-2), there's a very real chance the series could come to an end Wednesday night in Game 5.

Houston center Dwight Howard has a player option next season that he's reportedly going to turn down so he can seek a max contract on the open market. If that's the case and he ultimately finds a home elsewhere, Game 5 could be his last in a Rockets uniform. That's not how the eight-time All-Star sees things playing out, though.

"Wow," Howard said when asked whether Wednesday would be his final appearance for the Rockets. "Game 5 won't be the last game for us. We're going to try and win."

Is that a Superman guarantee? Don't count on it.

"I said we're going to try and win," Howard added. "You can say what you want to say and take it however you're going to take it. But if we don't go in with the mindset we're going to win the game, why should we play? Our lives are on the line - let's go out there and play."

It was just last year when the Rockets overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round, so it's within the realm of possibility for the team to do so again. It won't be easy, though, as the Warriors haven't lost consecutive games at any point during the 2015-16 campaign.

Howard is averaging a double-double of 14.5 points and 12.3 rebounds on 65.7 percent shooting in four games against Golden State.