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Can the Warriors Avoid Elimination at Home in Game 6?

By Andrew Ites

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 24: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors defends James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 24: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors defends James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Warriors head home for Game 6 down 3-2 and facing elimination, but there are a few reasons to be optimistic that they can win this series.

The Warriors haven’t had their backs against the wall like this since Game 7 of the 2016 Finals.

Houston has taken Game 4 and Game 5 by a combined seven points, and are now one win shy of reaching the NBA Finals.

However, they had to have a sour taste in their mouth after Thursday night’s win.

Chris Paul went down with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter, and he’s already been ruled out for Game 6.

CP3 has a history of hamstring trouble, and this injury creates a completely different dynamic in this series.

Paul has been the Rockets’ best player over the last few games as James Harden has struggled mightily on the offensive end missing 20 three-pointers in a row.

With Chris Paul out of the lineup, the Warriors are favored to win Game 6 by 12 points according to Sportsbook Review.

But Golden State also has some injury issues to deal with.

Andre Iguodala’s knee contusion has “gotten incrementally better,” according to Steve Kerr, but he is still questionable for Saturday night’s elimination game. Paul is surely more important to his team than Iguodala is, but Iggy’s absence has been a crucial factor in the Warriors dropping the past two games.

The Warriors sounded confident in their postgame press conferences following Game 5, and CP3’s injury has given them reason to be optimistic.

Golden State needs to take advantage of this opportunity and put the Rockets away early to force the series back to Houston for a Game 7.

Next: Is Houston the Warriors’ Toughest Opponent in the Steve Kerr Era?

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Game Details

Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets

Tip-Off: Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. PST

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

TV: TNT

Radio: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Radio Network

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