NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Finals
Tip-off: Saturday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -2.5, Total: 220.0

The Warriors will be looking to force a Game 7 with a victory over the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Saturday.

Golden State was facing elimination in Game 5 and the team responded with its best two-way performance since Game 2. The Warriors shot 47.1% from the floor in the victory and that was a major improvement from the 41.3% they shot in Game 2 and the 41.2% they shot in Game 3. Golden State also outrebounded Oklahoma City 54-50 in the game and that is something that will be key on Saturday. The team that has won the battle on the glass has won every game in this series. One trend worth pointing out is that the Warriors are 13-4 ATS after having lost two of their past three games over the past two seasons. The Thunder are, however, 16-6 ATS revenging a same season loss versus an opponent on the year. They also have not yet dropped a game at home against the Warriors in this series. Both teams should be at full strength coming into this one, as nobody is listed on the injury report.

The Warriors had a remarkable season, but they are one loss away from heading home to watch the NBA Finals. If this team is going to come away with a road victory on Saturday then PG Stephen Curry (25.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, 5.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG in playoffs) will need to play the way he did in Game 5. Curry had 31 points, seven boards, six assists and five steals in that one. He had been hesitant to score in one-on-one situations in Games 3 and 4 and must attack the basket on Saturday. Curry also dug in and played some solid defense in Game 5 and it’d be huge if he can do so again on Saturday. SG Klay Thompson (25.5 PPG, 1.1 SPG in playoffs) is also going to need to be on his game Saturday. Thompson is averaging 26.5 PPG over the past two contests and has been hitting huge shots for the Warriors all postseason. He was, however, just 2-for-9 from the outside last game and will need to be more efficient from out there in Game 6. It’d also be huge for the Warriors if PF Draymond Green (15.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.1 BPG, 1.5 SPG in playoffs) can play well in this one. Green was a non-factor in Games 3 and 4, but he really brought it on both ends of the floor in Game 5. He had 11 points in the game, but also blocked four shots and had a steal. This team is at its best when Green is mentally locked in and he’ll need to be on Saturday.

The Thunder have a chance to end this series on Saturday and they know they have to win this game, as they will not feel very confident playing a Game 7 in Golden State. If Oklahoma City is going to win this game then SF Kevin Durant (28.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG in playoffs) is going to need to shoot the ball a lot better in Game 6. Durant had 40 points in Game 5, but he was a miserable 12-for-31 from the field in that game. He missed a lot of big shots and it’s important that he is more efficient moving forward. PG Russell Westbrook (26.3 PPG, 10.9 APG, 6.8 RPG, 2.5 SPG in playoffs) is also going to need to be playing a bit smarter in this one. He had seven turnovers in Game 5 and was just 11-for-28 from the field. If he can take some better shots but also stay aggressive then this team has a very good chance of making it to the Finals. He will, however, need to make sure he stays focused on the defensive end.