Thursday night’s three-game NBA slate presents closeout opportunities for every one of the higher seeds. Philadelphia, Phoenix and Dallas are each a road win away from advancing to the conference semifinals and leaving a tough first-round series in its rearview. However, each of those three is a loss away from staring disaster right in the eyes.
What’s at risk in Game 6?
For Phoenix, a seventh and deciding game would put their franchise-best, 64-win season in jeopardy. Although Devin Booker’s injury for much of the series provides a valid excuse, the Suns seeing their quest back to the NBA Finals ended by a Play-In Tournament team would have an awful sting to it. That scenario feels like the least likely to come to fruition. The defending Western Conference champs have taken the Pelicans’ best punch, yet they still stand. Raucous Smoothie King Center crowd aside, the Suns (-2.5) should make good on their spread
I just can’t say the same about Philadelphia who, between Joel Embiid’s injury, James Harden’s play and Doc Rivers’ recent media soundbites, seem to be unraveling. The mere thought of even reaching Game 7 should be an exhausting one. It would mean a few things:
- The Sixers would have had three straight opportunities to close out the series and failed them all.
- The pressure would be on to NOT become the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 lead.
- An untrustworthy process?
Despite being the home underdogs (+1.5 at Tipico), it would be surprising if the Raptors didn’t take Game 6 at home. If they do, we’ll need a camera crew covering everything in the lead-up to Game 7.
Finally, Luka is going to get out of the first round, right? Even if the Jazz fake the funk one more time in front of their home crowd and force a Game 7, I can’t imagine them winning it. If I’m wrong? The discourse around Luka and the Mavs sure would be something, and Twitter would be fun. But, boy it would be a sickening way to end what was such an improved regular season for Dallas. Nevertheless, the Mavs are 1.5-point favorites on the road — that should tell you all that you need to know.
