It’s here.

The last time the Rockets played, it was Wednesday night, and they dispatched the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s been five simultaneously glorious and excruciating days since Max, Ryan and I jumped on a pod to dissect the ugliest closeout game in recent NBA history. We were so excited for the next game, but first we had to play the waiting game.

But that game is over. Five days of waiting, three days of knowing that Houston would play the San Antonio Spurs, a weekend of watching the Clippers franchise descend into likely ruin while the Eastern Conference continues to do weird Eastern Conference things.

All that is over now. Five days, gone. From here on out, every other day will include Rockets basketball until one team goes home (or there’s a Game 7). Starting tonight, our excruciating wait will turn into excruciating basketball anxiety, the kind only being matched up with the robotically ruthless combination of Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich.

I don’t expect the Rockets to win tonight, but I do expect them to win this series. That being said, if they win tonight, I will do my best not to crow tastelessly about it. I will likely fail.