The NBA playoffs are just throwing one curveball after another at pundits and fans. The action on one night seems to have no real connection to what happens in the next game. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to various results, creating a perplexing but constantly entertaining reality in the world of professional basketball. What’s going to happen on Thursday night?
Game 6: Indiana Pacers @ Washington Wizards
Thursday, 8:05 PM ET
Odds: Washington -4.5
This is a game the Wizards have to win in order to extend the series and their season. However, The Wizards have to be happy to even be alive in the series. They were not expected by most people to win Game 5 on the road against Indiana, but they crushed the Pacers with a complete performance. The Wizards hammered the Pacers on the boards, 62-23, one of the largest rebounding margins in NBA playoff history. When the rebounding gap is that big, it’s clear that the effort level of the two teams was very different. Indiana had seemingly turned the corner as a team, but the Pacers stopped working hard just as soon as they had found a winning formula. The Pacers are 2-0 on the road in this series, and they’ve been better than many thought they would be when they lost Game 1 a week ago. Indiana should still be glad to be leading this series, 3-2, entering Game 6. Had Indiana lost in Game 4 on Sunday night, the Pacers might be facing elimination here. They know that they have Game 7 on the weekend even if they don’t win this game, but they don’t want to have to get to that point. Will the Pacers play well? It’s hard to say, but Game 5 probably raised too many doubts. Washington is probably going to win its first home game of the series.
Pick: Washington -4.5
Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Clippers
Thursday, 10:35 PM ET
Odds: Los Angeles Clippers -4.5
The situation in this series is different from how people anticipated it would be late Tuesday night. The Clippers had a seven-point lead over Oklahoma City, 104-97, with 49 seconds left in Game 5 of this series. After blowing a 22-point lead and a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 4, the Thunder came out flat and were just about to go down 3-2 in the series. The Clippers were about to earn a chance to end the series at home on Thursday. However, just when it seemed that Los Angeles was home free, Oklahoma City rallied.
The Thunder got a three-point basket from Kevin Durant with 43 seconds left. Jamal Crawford of the Clippers missed an open finger roll with 22 seconds left, and Durant scored in transition to make the score 104-102 for Los Angeles with 17 seconds left. Then, Clipper point guard Chris Paul lost the game for his team. He committed a turnover; fouled Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook on a three-point shot; and, after Westbrook hit all three free throws, turned the ball over one more time just before the buzzer. Paul’s mistakes led to a 105-104 win that has the Thunder on the verge of winning this series.
The Clippers might be haunted by that loss, but they’re at home, and Paul is going to be angry. Los Angeles is probably good enough to win this game, though Oklahoma City will keep it close and cover the spread.
Pick: Oklahoma City +4.5
