NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: Thursday's Game Times, TV Info, Odds and More
This wild second round of the 2015 NBA playoffs always figured to include at least one or two Game 7s, and that could be set in stone by the end of Thursday's action.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers both have chances to advance to the conference finals with a victory in Game 6, defeat will push them to the brink of elimination. Anything can happen in Game 7, which is why wrapping things up tonight—especially for L.A. at home—is a must.
Here's a look at the Thursday night schedule.
Thursday, May 14 NBA Playoffs Schedule
| 8 p.m. | Game 6: Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls | ESPN | CHI -2 |
| 10:30 p.m. | Game 6: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers | ESPN | LAC -8.5 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated May 14.
Game 6 to Watch: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
With a single victory Thursday night in Game 6 at Staples Center, the Houston Rockets can make a wealth of folks look awfully naive and reinvigorate their championship hopes at the same time.
Just days ago, the Rockets were presumed dead after a second straight blowout in Game 4 on the road. The West's No. 2 seed during the regular season looked nothing like it, and it didn't feel like an exaggeration to say the series was over.
But right when Houston was expected to throw in the towel, it gave its most comprehensive performance of the series in a must-win Game 5 at home. Now, the Rockets will have to take that same mentality into a building where they have just one win (and it came in the regular season) against the Clippers this season.
L.A.'s front line of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan has been nothing short of dominant, but Dwight Howard began to show up in Game 5. The Rockets have won two of the three series games in which he's eclipsed 20 points, meaning they need to cancel out the post disadvantage.
James Harden also came to play in the elimination game, posting his first career playoff triple-double, even amid flu-like symptoms. But his backcourt has struggled to find an answer defensively for a hobbled Chris Paul, who is still slicing into lanes and finding teammates.
What should worry Houston even more now is that Paul is looking like he's back to 100 percent, per ESPN's Arash Markazi:
Although Paul is back to his usual self and the Clippers figure to dominate the post at home, they will need their shooters to return to form. J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford combined to shoot 9-of-41 in Game 5.
Having never made it to the conference finals in his illustrious career, Paul figures to be changing that over the next couple of days. But all it will take is one more resilient performance from Haren and Co. to put that accomplishment in jeopardy.
In Round 1, losing Game 5 at home to the San Antonio Spurs nearly doomed the Clippers before they rattled off two wins to save the season. They know what happens to a team when you let it stick around and should come out in Game 6 intent on putting the Rockets away.
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