NBA Playoffs 2016: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trailblazers Game 6 Preview
The fifth-seeded Portland Trailblazers now holds a lead over the number four-ranked Los Angeles Clippers, as their first round series heads to Game six.
The said contest is slated to take place on Friday, April 29th, at the Moda Center in Portland.
Los Angeles was able to put up impressive victories during Games One and Two, winning both games via double-digit margins. Point guard Chris Paul was the main man for both contests piling up respective double-doubles.
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The Trailblazers managed to bounce back in Games three and four, when things shifted to their home court. Point guard Damian Lillard ended the third contest with 32 points and five assists.
But as Portland soared their way to victory, Los Angeles was going through some struggles of their own. Game Four was also when Chris Paul broke his hand, and has been deemed to be out indefinitely. In a report by Yahoo! Sports, Paul will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, potentially ending his post-season run.
Forward Blake Griffin also caught the injury bug, as he is suffering from an aggravated quadriceps tendon. It is the same injury that kept him sidelined for 41 games earlier in the season.
The same report explains that Griffin "felt a tweak" in the said muscle after he was fouled by forward Mason Plumbee in the third period of the game. The MRI results from Tuesday's test showed no structural damage to the injured muscle, but Griffin was still deemed out for the rest of the season.
With the absence of two of the Clippers' main contributors, Portland was able to capitalize and take the series lead in Game five last April 27th, ending the night with a final score of 108-98.
The season's Most Improved Player CJ McCollum showed why he deserved such an honor by being the night's best player, dropping 27 points, along with four rebounds and four assists.
Heading into Game six, McCollum has his sights set on taking further advantage of the situation they are in.
"We've got a unique opportunity to play an elimination game at home, and now we want to make sure we take full advantage of it," McCollum said in an NBA.com report.
