NBA Playoff Picks and Predictions for Thursday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Thursday, May 14.
Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic, 7:05PM ET
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Dwight Howard wants the ball more. Stan Van Gundy is telling fans not to panic, and some Orlando Magic players think their series with Boston should already be over.
Orlando seems to be teetering on a Magic Meltdown.
Howard met with Van Gundy and apologized Wednesday - but did not retract his statements - after publicly challenging the coach's strategy in their Game 5 collapse. The Magic center even added another bold comment as the Celtics look to close out Orlando in Game 6 Thursday and move on to the Eastern Conference finals.
``We can't give up hope,'' Howard said Wednesday. ``We're in this series to win it. We are going to win this series.''
That will take quite a turnaround.
NBA Free Pick: Orlando | Best Line: -6.5 Sports Interaction
Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic, 8:05PM ET
The shots stopped falling, the passes that worked in Game 4 were turnovers in Game 5, and every loose ball or whistle seemed to go the Los Angeles' Lakers way.
Two days after one of the most stirring victories in franchise history, the Houston Rockets suffered one of their worst postseason defeats and now face elimination Thursday in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the Lakers.
``We know it's time to man-up or else it's going to be golf time,'' said forward Shane Battier, held to five points in Game 5 after scoring 23 in Houston's 99-87 win Sunday.
The Lakers' 118-78 win on Tuesday matched Houston's most lopsided playoff loss. The Rockets say don't count them out just yet, pointing to their propensity for bouncing back after embarrassing defeats.
NBA Free Pick: Houston | Best Line: +8 Sports Interaction