The San Antonio Spurs are a game away from eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers, but the momentum continues to swing both ways in this series.
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio.
When: Friday May 1, 02:30 (UK time)
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
Neither team has been able to take command of this series as they have traded blows throughout, but it is the defending champions who now have the opportunity to finally seal the deal.
The Houston Rockets have already secured their spot in the Western Conference semifinals, and so they will now await the outcome of this game to see if they know the identity of their next opponent.
Should the Clippers win this encounter on Thursday night, it will go to a Game 7 on Saturday, and what better entertainment to build up to the clash between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in near-by Las Vegas.
However, Gregg Popovich will hope to see his team secure the deal on Thursday as they have looked impressive when they have the right intensity and grit to their play.
As ever, it has come in a shared effort right across the roster, but this game may well call on their veterans and role players to all have a significant impact to outfox their rivals one more time.
After celebrating his 39th birthday last Saturday, Tim Duncan has showed no signs of slowing down after back-to-back solid performances. The ‘Big Fundamental’ finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds in Game 4 before putting up 21 points and 11 boards on Tuesday.
A loss here would be yet another disappointment for the Clippers who haven’t made the Conference finals since their inception in 1970, and Chris Paul of all players will be desperate to get there.
However, it can’t all be on the starters as when the Spurs win, they have had the edge from their bench make the difference. The Clippers severely lack that depth, and it could be their un-doing yet again.
Prediction: Spurs to win and seal a series victory.
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