Spurs lead, 3-2
Game 6 telecast/May 12, Friday
8 a.m. – NBA Premium
8 a.m. – ABS-wCBN+Action
HOUSTON (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs are a victory away from eliminating the Houston Rockets and advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time since winning the NBA title in 2014.
But entering Thursday night’s Game 6 in Houston there are questions about whether Kawhi Leonard will be at full strength after rolling his ankle in an overtime win on Tuesday night. The Spurs’ MVP candidate was hurt when he stepped on James Harden’s foot about midway through the third quarter. He played limited minutes for the rest of regulation and did not play in overtime.
San Antonio’s All-Star said after the game that it was “a little sore” and he was limping. But he insisted that he’s fine and will be ready to go on Thursday.
If Leonard is still hobbled for Game 6 it will be another blow to a team already without Tony Parker after the veteran suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in Game 2.
Leonard was pragmatic when asked if he thinks his team is in control of the series after escaping with a win on Tuesday night.
“No,” he said. “Not in control until we win Game 6.”
After getting blown out in their last trip the Houston, the Spurs know eliminating a team with its back against the wall will be a huge task.
“It’s going to be tough,” Spurs HOUSTON (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs are a victory away from eliminating the Houston Rockets and advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time since winning the NBA title in 2014.
But entering Thursday night’s Game 6 in Houston there are questions about whether Kawhi Leonard will be at full strength after rolling his ankle in an overtime win on Tuesday night. The Spurs’ MVP candidate was hurt when he stepped on James Harden’s foot about midway through the third quarter. He played limited minutes for the rest of regulation and did not play in overtime.
San Antonio’s All-Star said after the game that it was “a little sore” and he was limping. But he insisted that he’s fine and will be ready to go on Thursday.
If Leonard is still hobbled for Game 6 it will be another blow to a team already without Tony Parker after the veteran suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in Game 2.
Leonard was pragmatic when asked if he thinks his team is in control of the series after escaping with a win on Tuesday night.
“No,” he said. “Not in control until we win Game 6.”
After getting blown out in their last trip the Houston, the Spurs know eliminating a team with its back against the wall will be a huge task.
“It’s going to be tough,” Spurs “We let one slip away,” Harden said. “Execution and rebounding are probably the two primary things we let slip away in this game. We still have an opportunity in Game 6 to go home and protect home court and bring it back for Game 7.”
Harden wasn’t the only Rocket who seemed spent late on a night when Houston used just seven players. Coach Mike D’Antoni has used an eight-man rotation throughout the playoffs, but didn’t add anyone to the mix on Tuesday in the first game since backup center Nene suffered a torn thigh muscle.
D’Antoni wasn’t sure after the game if he’d tweak the rotation in the next game.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t think about it too much on the way here, but I’ll think about it and I’ll let you know tomorrow or the next day or maybe not. I have no clue.”
