Format the following passage properly, for storytelling purposes. Keep it as written, don't change a single word, but improve grammar where necessary.

The Pacers came just short of a trip to the NBA Finals in 1994...but would they be able to get some consolation, however small, with a win over the Houston Rockets who ended up winning it all against the New York Knicks? There was only one way to find out. And so, the Pacers--fresh off handling the Portland Trail Blazers--opted to face Houston in their next game at the Market Square Arena. Though they got off to a good start, they soon came to regret their decision, as the Rockets could not be stopped once they got into a rhythm. Robert Horry scored to make it a 100-81 game in Houston's favor with 8:10 left in the fourth period, and the Rockets ultimately emerged victorious 124-109. Indiana's defense proved as formidable as ever, and the Rockets were only able to narrowly edge them out on the "Hustle Board," with 99 defensive points to Indiana's 98. The Pacers led 26-20 in blocked shots, but Houston got the better of them in rebounds (54 to 53) and steals (a huge 28-19 lead for the Rockets). Otis Thorpe was named "Player of the Game" after finishing with 34 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 blocks. Matt Bullard added 25 points, while Hakeem Olajuwon did his thing on defense, contributing twelve rebounds and eleven assists. Dale Davis led the Pacers in both scoring and blocking, finishing with 38 points and ten blocks. Derrick McKey added 27 more points to Indiana's final total; Rik Smits added ten rebounds and seven assists. Perhaps feeling a bit confident following the win over Indiana, Houston opted to defend the Summit against a division rival, the San Antonio Spurs. With "Admiral" David Robinson and Dennis Rodman leading the way, the Spurs were a challenge for any team in the NBA. And yet, the Rockets got off to an explosive start, leading by nearly twenty points when the whistle mercifully sounded for halftime. Whatever head coach John Lucas II said to them in the locker room must have made a serious impact on them, because they bounced all the way back from certain defeat, taking it by a final score of 122-110. What really set the Spurs apart from Houston was the way they played defense; the "Hustle Board" showed a commanding lead for them at the end of the game, as they finished with 99 points to just 84 for the Rockets. Though Houston led them 19-14 in blocked shots, San Antonio was able to edge them out 48-46 in rebounds, and absolutely crushed them with the steals, finishing with nearly twice as many (37 to 19). Dennis Rodman, professionally known more for historic rebounding skills than prolific scoring, led the Spurs in points scored, and was named "Player of the Game" after finishing with 38 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. Centers David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon helped their teams out, with Robinson adding 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Spurs while Olajuwon added 12 rebounds and 16 assists for the Rockets. Bringing it back to the Alamodome, the Spurs looked to the Charlotte Hornets for what seemed like an easy enough first 'title defense.' The Hornets narrowly missed the playoffs at the end of the 1993-94 regular season, finishing just a single game behind the Miami Heat for the eighth seed (despite winning 18 of their final 26 games). They also had two eight-game losing streaks between January and March 1994, losing 16 of 17 midway through the season. On paper, they seemed like a beatable team. But the Hornets, scrappy underdogs with everything to gain, fought viciously against the Spurs and upset them in the Alamodome 111-110. (Notably, in the two times the Spurs played Charlotte in the 1993-94 regular season, they won 92-88 in Charlotte and 117-111 in the Alamodome. How ironic that the Hornets scored as many points in San Antonio in real life, in a losing effort, as they did in a virtual effort to actually win that game!) The Hornets were looking like near-guaranteed winners by the time Johnny Newman scored a three-point shot to make it 101-87 for Charlotte with 5:37 left in the fourth period, only for the Spurs to fight desperately to cancel the deficit. They eventually took a 108-107 lead with less than sixty seconds remaining, followed by multiple lead changes; a final 'Hail Mary' shot from David Robinson narrowly missed the basket as time expired, and that was all she wrote. Amazingly, for the first time to date, the "Hustle Board" ended in a 99-99 tie! Charlotte led 26-19 in blocked shots and 55-51 in rebounds, but San Antonio led 33-28 in steals. Larry Johnson was named "Player of the Game" after finishing with 51 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists. David Wingate added another 20 points, and led the team with seven blocks. Antoine Carr and Willie Anderson combined for 56 points for the Spurs, while the "Admiral" David Robinson led San Antonio with 13 rebounds and Dennis Rodman contributed six blocks. With the margin of victory being as razor-thin as it was, and the "Hustle Board" showing both teams being essentially equal defensively, it only seemed right for the Hornets to grant San Antonio a rematch. And so it was, that the Charlotte Coliseum would soon play host to the San Antonio Spurs, who were looking for payback after a shocking setback. Their revenge was swift and decisive, as the Spurs would take it 121-109, breaking the hearts of every fan who had helped the Hornets to lead the NBA in home-game attendance during the 1993-94 season, for the fifth time in their six seasons as a franchise to that point. Willie Anderson sank a three-pointer to get Houston over the 100-point mark first, and gave them a 101-85 lead with 8:30 remaining in the fourth period. The "Hustle Board" was much more lopsided in favor of San Antonio this time around, the final total reflecting a 95-86 lead. While Charlotte led 21-12 in blocked shots, San Antonio clearly led in rebounds (52 to 41) and steals (31 to 24). Dennis Rodman, for the second time in three games, was named "Player of the Game" after a performance which saw him log 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. David Robinson retained defensive solidarity, accounting for 15 rebounds and 13 assists. Fan favorite--and future Miami Heat legend--Alonzo Mourning was a standout for the Charlotte Hornets, adding nine rebounds and eleven assists. With one period in the books for this most recent game, I found myself pausing the Fusion emulator. Several housemates and myself, along with the 'acting' house manager for today, went to see a show featuring the Jersey Tenors at the Boca Black Box. An absolutely wonderful show that pays tribute to New Jersey's musical legacy, but what really impressed me was not the singers themselves but "Karen," the female keyboardist who was also directing the band. She played with not only precision but great sensitivity, adding panache to each song; she could play with power when a song was more upbeat, and had a gentle touch for softer pieces. In a recent 'thank you' message to the Tenors, I made sure to acknowledge Karen's work, and though I'm not sure if I will hear back, I am glad to have had a chance to give thanks. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of going to a show, not just enjoying what an artist does but wishing them well once they're done. I am still hoping to someday see my friend Sonja in a live performance. Knowing she believes in me, I am filled with courage that defies description. I hope she knows I care about her too. She's been through a lot, and I wish her nothing but the best.