Dwight Howard, Rockets fans ride out storm together in arena following Game 4 win
Thanks to Mother Nature, Monday's Game 4 victory celebration in the Toyota Center went on a lot longer than anticipated.
Dwight Howard and about 350 Houston Rockets fans were stuck in their home arena for hours after the team avoided getting swept from the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, according to the the Houston Chronicle's David Barron.
Just before Houston's 128-115 victory, arena officials used the scoreboard to advise fans to stay in their seats and wait out the storm.
While most fans and Rockets players left, a few - including Howard who lives out-of-town - chose to be cautious and wait out the storm.
That wait would last into the wee hours of Tuesday morning, as authorities strongly suggested residents to stay off roads due to flash flooding, according to ESPN.
Rockets head coach Kevin McHale said all his players arrived home safely, eventually.
However, Howard made the wait tolerable for fans. The center - who posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in 34 minutes for his team - came out to greet fans, taking photos and signing autographs for those he was stranded with.
#Rockets Dwight Howard comforting fans stuck in the Toyota Center following the win. #HoustonFlood pic.twitter.com/IJR7TVycGM
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_KPRC) May 26, 2015
Howard's son played catch with fans.
At least someone is having fun here. As Dwight does a local TV interview, his son plays with the crowd - pic.twitter.com/Fjb11kxh1K
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 26, 2015
ESPN reports that Howard was still in the arena at 2:15 a.m. CT, and it is unknown what time he left. Around 200 people still remained in the arena at 3:50 a.m. CT.
"Sleepy ... crazy ... but fine," Howard told reporters when asked how he was doing. "I'm enjoying myself with the fans."
Game 5 is on Wednesday night in Oracle Arena.