Breaking Barriers: Rockets and Pacers Rise from Underdogs in Sports History

During the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced a dire situation in the Western Conference Semifinals, trailing the Phoenix Suns 3-1, which put their season on the brink. Simultaneously, the Indiana Pacers found themselves in a similar predicament against the New York Knicks, down 3-1 in their Eastern Conference Finals series. Defying expectations, both teams rallied fiercely. On May 20, 1995, Houston's Mario Elie sank a critical three-pointer, securing a 115-114 victory over the Suns in Game 7 and marking the first time in 13 years that a team had overcome a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series. The very next day, the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, mirrored this remarkable comeback against the Knicks. These resilient performances redefined the underdog narrative in sports.