NBA playoff schedule: Rockets force Game 6; Spurs, Raptors take 3-2 series leads

The Rockets came out of the gate like they should have: playing with their backs against the wall. They blitzed the Blazers, forcing them into nine first half turnovers -- although they committed nine of their own, they were mostly unforced -- and managing to shoot the ball 49 times in one half.

After halftime, most of the Rockets’ lead evaporated until Lin started going off. Matthews was enormous, shooting 5-for-9 on three-pointers, playing stupendous defense on Harden and finishing with 27 points. Lillard was quiet in the second half, but still finished with an impressive 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

You are a young man who is passionate about a young woman. Crazy about her, in fact. So much so that you bought tickets -- good ones, you had to save up for ‘em -- to the big Raptors game, one of the biggest in years.

And it went perfectly. The Raptors were dominant. The Nets fought back. Toronto held strong, and with a gutty Kyle Lowry shot in the lane, it looked like they’d hold on for the win in spite of the Brooklyn onslaught.

The Spurs didn’t play terrific defense -- the Mavericks shot 42.9 percent from three-point range and only turned the ball over eight times -- but their offense was so beautiful that it didn’t matter. The Spurs shot 46.6 from the field, 50 percent from deep and turned the ball over just five(!) times.

In the second half, Nowitzki had his first dominant stretch of the series. He hit six straight shots and got over 20 points -- he finished with 26 -- but he was always a step or two slow on defense, victimized frequently by Splitter and Tim Duncan, who got to the rim with impunity. The Spurs couldn’t find Carter on the perimeter all night; Vinsanity hit 7-9 on three pointers and led all scorers with 28 points, but there was no opportunity for heroics on this night.

That would be graffiti on the most famous landmark in Brooklyn, with the Raptors’ playoff slogan.

Raptors fans are the realest right now.

Game time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Location: Toyota Center, Houston

But it hasn’t been such a smooth ride for San Antonio, either. They’ve allowed the Mavericks to steal two games from them, including Game 1 on their home floor. Despite being able to dominate from the field, or clean up the glass, the Spurs have yet to find space to really pull away from the Mavericks for four full quarters.

Game time: 7 p.m. ET

7 p.m. ET, TNT

7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV