The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are set to square off in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series. Heading into the game, the Warriors will have another chance to advance to the second round, this time having the game played at home.
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Houston was able to stave off elimination in Game 5, using an early game blitz to help seal the deal. But with the scene shifting back to the Chase Center, the challenge has grown for the young Rockets team.
Entering the game, the Warriors had two players land on the injury report. Both star guard Stephen Curry and guard Gary Payton II were listed, but each player has been upgraded to available for the crucial contest.
Having Curry healthy for this game changes everything for the Warriors, as he is the leader of the team. For the season, the star guard has averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
The Warriors have dealt with some injury concerns during this series, namely to star forward Jimmy Butler. Butler missed Game 3 due to a pelvic injury but has since returned to help his team.
Golden State has been able to manage this series well, other than the Game 5 beatdown, using their strong defense to confuse the Rockets. Experience is on the side of the Warriors in this matchup, as many of the Rockets players are just getting a taste of postseason basketball.
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This series has gotten choippy at times, with both sides having big personalities on the rosters. Warriors star Draymond Green and Rockets forward Dillon Brooks are two of the biggest instigators that the league has to offer.
Game 6 is expected to be another tight contest, with the Rockets likely coming out with a sense of desperation again. Houston understands that if they can force a Game 7 back at home, anything can happen.
The Rockets were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference for a reason, so they aren’t just going to lie down. Golden State will need to earn this win if it wants to advance to the next round.
Fans should be in for a strong contest as the next chapter in this series unfolds.
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