Clippers desperate to win Game 6 against Houston Rockets

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Blake Griffin beats Houston guard James Harden to the basket during the second quarter of Game 5 of the second round playoff series between the Clippers and the Rockets.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Paul and Blake Griffin walk off the court while trailing in Houston during the Clippers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets, 124-103.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston big man Dwight Howard grabs a rebound from Glen Davis during the Clippers’ loss to the Rockets, 124-103, in Game 5 of their second round playoff series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Blake Griffin and Chris Paul walk off the court while trailing the Rockets during the Clippers’ Game 5 loss Tuesday in Houston, 124-103.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Paul gets a pass off in front of Houston’s Dwight Howard, right, and Jason Terry during the Clippers’ Game 5 loss Tuesday to the Rockets, 124-103.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston center Dwight Howard blocks a shot from Matt Barnes during the Clippers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets, 124-103.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Matt Barnes fouls Houston center Dwight Howard on a shot attempt during the Clippers’ 124-103 loss to the Rockets in Game 5 of their playoff series.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston guard Terrence Jones, left, knocks the ball away from Chris Paul during Game 5 of the second-round playoff series between the Clippers and the Rockets.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Chris Paul gets up from the floor during the second half of the Clippers’ 124-103 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their playoff series.

(Larry W. Smith / EPA)

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Chris Paul and Blake Griffin look on from the bench with J.J. Redick during the Clippers’ 124-103 loss to the Rockets in Game 5 of the team’s playoff series against Houston.

(Larry W. Smith / EPA)

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Blake Griffin has his shot blocked by Houston forward Josh Smith during the second quarter of Game 5 of the second-round series between the Clippers and Rockets.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Blake Griffin loses the ball to Houston forward Josh Smith as he’s fouled by guard Jason Terry during Game 5 of the second round playoff series between the Clippers and Rockets.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston center Dwight Howard dunks the ball in front of DeAndre Jordan during the Clippers’ 124-103 loss to the Rockets.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Houston guard James Harden and Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan fight for a rebound during Game 5 of the second-round playoff series between the Clipper and Rockets.

(Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

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Blake Griffin and Chris Paul walk off the court during a timeout in Game 5 of the Clippers’ second round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

(David Phillip / Associated Press)

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Chris Paul holds his arm after hitting the floor during the second half of Game 5 of the Clippers’ playoff series with the Houston Rockets.

(David Phillip / Associated Press)

By Broderick Turner

Staff Writer

May 13, 2015 9 AM PT

In many ways, it was inconceivable to think the Clippers could sustain such a high level of play in the playoffs.

At some point, you had to figure they would not be at their best, and that point was in Game 5 Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets.

You heard Clippers Coach Doc Rivers and power forward Blake Griffin say the Rockets “were the desperate team.”

The Rockets had to be because they were facing elimination.

The Clippers didn’t have to be as desperate because they had the buffer of knowing they can close out the best-of-seven second-round series with a victory in Game 6 Thursday night at Staples Center.

To be sure, this will be the Clippers’ Game 7, because history would not be on their side if they have to return to Houston for Game 7 on Sunday.

Out of 119 Game 7s, the road team has won just 24. But the Clippers have a 3-2 lead and can finish off the Rockets.

The Clippers will have to improve their defense in Game 6. They allowed the Rockets to make 54.1% of their shots.

The Clippers will need more production out of their guard core. J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers shot a combined eight-for-33 from the field, three-for-18 from three-point range.

“A sense of desperation is really there for them and it really was a sense of desperation,” Griffin said. “We played [Tuesday] night like we had a couple of bullets in the chamber and we can’t do that. This is the difference in teams. You see teams close out games they should close out.”

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner

Clippers desperate to win Game 6 against Houston Rockets

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