Blazers, Hornets, Raptors looking to advance to 2nd round
Last time they came home, the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets were still just trying to win a game.
This time, they're looking to win a series.
After engineering big turnarounds with three straight victories, the Trail Blazers and Hornets will be playing for spots in the second round when they host Game 6s on Friday night.
The Toronto Raptors can also wrap up their series against the Indiana Pacers - and win a seven-game series for the first time in franchise history.
Here are Friday's games:
Raptors at Pacers
Toronto leads 3-2. 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Toronto was in this spot just two years ago, taking a 3-2 lead to Brooklyn. The Nets won Game 6 and then Game 7 at Air Canada Centre, so the Raptors know the danger of relying on another game at home if they lose this one.
''You've got to treat this like Game 7. You've got to come out fighting,'' Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. ''We know their backs are against the wall. We can't go and get ambushed. We've got to go in with our high beams on, laser-like focus from the start of the game to the end of the game.''
In other words, they should play like they did in the fourth quarter of Game 5.
Indiana controlled that for three quarters, then the Raptors rallied by outscoring the Pacers 25-9 in the fourth. Paul George, who scored 39 points, said Thursday he's still not over the collapse and is ready to play all 48 minutes if necessary to prevent another.
Heat at Hornets
Charlotte leads 3-2. 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said he'll stick with the lineup he's used the last three games, meaning Nicolas Batum will come off the bench again after returning from a foot injury in Game 5.
Miami averaged 119 points in the first two games, but hasn't even reached 90 since. Charlotte shut the Heat out over the final 2:28 on Wednesday.
''We've got to keep believing, believing in each other and I feel like if we play the right way, we'll see the results in due time,'' guard Jeremy Lin said. ''Game 1 and Game 2, we just didn't play the way we knew we could.''
The Hornets haven't won a series since 2002, but are in position to oust the No. 3 seed in the East.
Clippers at Trail Blazers
Portland leads 3-2. 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Playing without the injured Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers seemed to wear down in the fourth quarter of Game 5 after it was tied at 71 through three. Damian Lillard scored 16 of his 22 points in the final period as the Blazers pulled away for a 108-98 victory.
Rivers is reminding his players to have great resolve and embrace their difficult challenge. They did it last year in the same situation, winning Game 6 in San Antonio before taking Game 7 of a classic first-round series back home.
''Our guys have confidence in knowing that they've been in this situation before,'' Rivers said. ''The memory helps us know it can be done, but other than that we have to go play better basketball.''