May 16--Basketball-Reference.com gave the Clippers a 53.9% chance of beating the Houston Rockets in Game 7 at Houston's Toyota Center on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
The Clippers had a 3-1 lead over the Rockets in their best-of-seven second-round series before losing Games 5 and 6. In Game 6 on Thursday, the Rockets overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit by outscoring the Clippers in the fourth quarter, 40-15.
Only eight teams in NBA history have recovered from a 3-1 series deficit to advance to the next round.
The winner of Game 7 will play the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals. The Clippers have never made it past the second round of the playoffs in their 45-year history.
This will be the Clippers' second Game 7 of these playoffs, and their fourth Game 7 in the last three years. The Clippers had Game 7 victories in the first round over Memphis in 2012 (on the road), Golden State in 2014 (at home) and San Antonio earlier this month (at home).
Nearly 80% of home teams win Game 7 in NBA playoff series. But the Clippers have proven to be good on the road this season, winning a franchise-best 26 away games during the regular season, and beating the Rockets in Game 1 in Houston during their playoff series.
"We've got to come out and play," Blake Griffin said Thursday. "There's nothing more to it. Game 7 is Game 7 -- it's about who wants it more. I expect us to be ready."
