The Houston Rockets kept their season alive with a blowout victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5, and are hoping to do so again tonight. Will they be able to force a Game 7, or will the Clippers advance to the first conference final in franchise history?
Projected Starting Lineups
(2) Houston Rockets (56-26)
G Jason Terry – 7.0 ppg, 1.9 apg
G James Harden – 27.4 ppg, 7.0 apg, 5.7 rpg
F Trevor Ariza – 12.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg
F Terrance Jones – 11.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg
C Dwight Howard – 15.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg
(3) Los Angeles Clippers (56-26)
G Chris Paul – 19.1 ppg, 10.2 apg
G J.J. Redick – 16.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg
F Matt Barnes – 10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg
F Blake Griffin – 21.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5.3 apg
C DeAndre Jordan – 11.5 ppg, 15.0 rpg, 2.3 bpg
What to watch for:
How bad does Houston want it?
The Rockets are the first team to lose consecutive playoff games by 25+ points in over a quarter century, and both blowouts happened because of their seeming lack of focus and intensity. They got things back on track in front of their home crowd in Game 5, but they haven't shown they can carry that intensity on the road in the postseason. If they don't they'll get blown out again.
Austin Rivers' Production
Rivers has stepped his game up dramatically in the postseason, giving the Clippers someone other than Jamal Crawford who can consistently produce off the bench. They need him to have another big game tonight for them to win.
Prediction: Clippers win 115-109
Los Angeles absolutely does not want to return to Houston for a Game 7, so they're going to put everything they have into this game. I don't think the Rockets will be able to match that intensity, giving the Clippers the win.
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