The NBA Playoffs continue this Friday, the 12th of May with a massive clash between the Rockets and the Spurs. San Antonio came up trumps after overtime in game five to take a 3-2 lead as the series heads back to Houston. It’s win or go home for the Rockets now, who will need to win both game five in Houston and game six in San Antonio to advance. We preview the big game and give our betting tips below.
San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets (10am AEST)
The Rockets look destined to pinch game five and give themselves a massive chance at winning the series when they led by as much as 9 points in the final few minutes, however, they completely lost their offence and allowed the Spurs back into the game to force an overtime period. James Harden was good through the first three quarters, but stopped taking the game on and deferred more to his teammates, especially in the OT period.
All eyes will be on Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard, who injured his ankle late in game five and who has been listed as questionable for the game. The Spurs seem to manage okay without him in the fourth quarter and overtime, but if James Harden was able to play a full game without the defensive pressure of Kawhi Leonard, the Rockets will have to go into this game as favourites.
Manu Ginobili wound back the clock in game five with a great performance to lead the Spurs to victory in Kawhi’s absence. The Rockets main barometer, their 3pt shooting, was a little bit off in game five, shooting 16-48 from behind the arc. Traditionally, they have been a much better shooting team at home, but we saw the Spurs knock off Memphis in an away game 6 after the first 5 games had gone to form.
At $1.31, the Rockets are a little too short for my liking. Ultimately this has been the hardest series to pick so far in the playoffs with the teams winning alternate games by big margins. If I had to pick someone id go with the value and take the Spurs here.
TIP: San Antonio Spurs to win - $3.60 at Sportsbet
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