The NBA playoffs standings has the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers looking to close out the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets on Thursday, as both teams are looking to clinch their series 4-2 after going up 3-2 in the conference semifinals and stars like LeBron James, Derrick Rose, James Harden and Chris Paul will look to play at their best.
UPDATE: the Cleveland Cavaliers won over the Chicago Bulls to advance in the eastern conference playoffs
James and the Cavaliers have been pulling out games and they have won the last two matchups and now have a 3-2 lead over the Bulls. The Bulls won the first game of the series, but the Cavs have bounced back and they won two in a row after James took the game winning shot in Game 4 and then won Game 5. James has been playing better than anyone in the series and he comes in after putting up 38 points, 12 rebounds and six assists on Wednesday night.
The Bulls have been putting up a fight and they come in after losing by five and they got 29 points from Jimmy Butler and nine rebounds and seven assists from Derrick Rose. Butler had nine rebounds and three assists and while he outplayed James at points in the beginning of the series, James has played much better over the last two games.
James is averaging 25 points and seven assists in the playoffs and he has been putting the team on his back all postseason. James helped the team win the past two games and earlier in the series David Blatt nearly blew it, trying to call a timeout when the team didn't have any left. Luckily he was stopped and later James hit the winning shot. The Cavs now have the chance to close out the series.
The Rockets stayed alive with a win over the Clippers and now Game 6 could be the clincher for Los Angeles. The team has played well, but both sides have blown out each other and this could end in Game 6 if the Clippers win. James Harden was great with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for a triple double in the win and he will be key for Houston. The Clips got 30 points and 16 rebounds from Blake Griffin, while Chris Paul added 10 assists. The Clippers lead the series 3-2.
