The No. 2 Houston Rockets (6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS) will try to extend their Western Conference semifinal series with the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS) to a seventh game when the teams meet Thursday. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
The Rockets hadn’t lost three straight games all season and with their season on the line they ended their skid with a 124-103 win on Tuesday to send the series back to Los Angeles for Game Six. Houston overcame the mental strain of back-to-back blowout losses, finally playing like a second-seeded team. They return to the scene of those losses and must overcome another obstacle to extend the series to the distance.
Denied their first trip to the Western Conference Final with a 124-103 setback Tuesday, the Clippers look to regroup and find the intensity that was missing. The Clips blasted the Rockets in back-to-back games at Staples Center over the weekend and, with their Game Seven win over San Antonio in the opening-round, have won three straight at home cashing the over in each of their last five.
KEY INJURY
Clippers reserve guard Austin Rivers fell hard to the court on his right hip after a layup attempt at the end of the third quarter and stayed on the floor in obvious pain. He was tended to by the training staff during the quarter break and returned to the game in the fourth quarter. Also, forward Glen Davis continues to be slowed by the left ankle sprain he sustained in the opening round series. Davis played just six minutes Tuesday.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We weren’t aggressive enough (earlier in the series). The first four games we were timid. We made a conscious effort to go in there and be in attack mode. Dwight (Howard) did a good job, especially in that first quarter, of putting pressure on the rim.” – Rockets guard James Harden after Tuesday’s win
BETTING TRENDS
- Houston is 0-3 ATS in its last three road games.
- Los Angeles is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 home games.
- The OVER is 5-0 in Los Angeles’ last five home games.
KEY STATS
36: The Rockets matched their Game Three total of 36 points in the paint by halftime Tuesday, taking advantage of foul-plagued Clippers center DeAnddre Jordan, who had three fouls in nine first half minutes.
30: Clippers forward Blake Griffin scored 30 points Tuesday, his third playoff game of 30 or more points, with 16 rebounds for his 11th double-double in 12 postseason games.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It took a while but James Harden finally showed up for the Rockets, in time to avoid elimination and force Game Six. Dealing with an obvious illness that required an IV earlier Tuesday, Harden was a force on the court denying the Clippers a celebratory party on the Toyota Center court. Harden clearly wasn’t feeling well, but faced with elimination he shook off his illness and had a triple-double in perhaps his finest playoff performance to keep the Rockets alive. “This is win or go home and I’m pretty sure he wants this as bad as we all do and he showed that tonight,” Dwight Howard said of his bearded superstar teammate.
The Clippers clearly lacked the intensity they showed in a pair of blowout wins at Staples Center over the weekend and it cost them a chance to clinch their first trip to a conference final. After dominating so thoroughly in their three victories and looking like the superior team, the Clips failed to match the vigor of the Rockets. The bench wasn’t as good with Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers going a combined 5 of 21 from the field and the shots didn’t fall. “You could see they were a little more aggressive early in the game. All in all they were the better team tonight,” Chris Paul said.
The hardest game to win in a best-of-seven is the fourth and the Clippers margin for error was sliced in half putting the pressure squarely on their shoulders to wrap up the series Thursday or face a do-or-die Game Seven back in Houston. LA has to feel confident playing at home after destroying the Rockets in a pair of games last weekend and closing out the defending champion Spurs on May 2 in the opening-round series. Don’t count out the Rockets, though. They were the desperate team Tuesday and need that same level of desperation to extend the series. The Clips will avoid a return trip to Houston, however, and clinch the series on Thursday.
Los Angeles 118, Houston 109
The NBA odds for this game will first open at BookMaker sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The contest pitting the Houston Rockets versus the Los Angeles Clippers will commence Thursday, May 14, 2015, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
