NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: TV, Live Stream Guide for Thursday's Game 6 Matchups

My, how quickly things can change in the NBA playoffs. When last we met, the Golden State Warriors were still the clear favorites to win the title, and the Charlotte Hornets got on the board after losing the first two to the Miami Heat.

Now, Steph Curry is on the shelf with an MCL sprain, according to ESPN.com, and the Hornets are one win from advancing to the next frame after their Game 5 victory Wednesday night. Arash Markazi of ESPN.com reported the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will also miss significant time after sustaining injuries Monday night.

But injuries are an occupational hazard in all sports, and we must press on without these nicked-up stars. There is only one game Thursday night, but it is an elimination game, adding an extra level of drama. 

The Atlanta Hawks will travel to Boston to face the Celtics at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. The game will be televised on TNT and can be streamed on Watch TNT.

The Celtics will have to rebound quickly from a 110-83 demolition at the hands of the Hawks in Game 5. The Hawks shot 40 percent from three in that game and held the Celtics to just 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

Isaiah Thomas, one of the main playmakers for the Celtics, will have to be better if the Celtics hope to extend the series to a seventh game. The diminutive Thomas scored only seven points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field in Game 5.

To add injury to insult, Thomas sprained his ankle at the end of Game 5. There were concerns he might not play Thursday, but head coach Brad Stevens put those concerns to rest, via the Celtics' official Twitter account:

On the other side of the ball, the Celtics will need to make major strides on defense to hang with the Hawks. Atlanta had five players score in double figures in Game 5 and had 30 assists on 42 made baskets. If the Celtics again struggle to keep up with the Hawks, it could spell the end of Boston's season.