Thunder/Rockets Game 6 Live Blog

Despite scoring only 39 points (their lowest total of the series) in Game 5, Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan has no plans to change his starting lineup. "I feel good about those guys."

Whether it's coach-speak or he believes in them, Dovan needs to be flexible with his rotations in Game 6. He could go small and take Steven Adams off the floor, but that pretty much means you're going to give up getting offensive boards.

You could start the closing lineup with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, Danilo Gallinari, and Adams, but we saw in Game 5 that Gilgeous-Alexander can't guard Harden to save his life.

The Thunder are who they are, and as Donovan has said, all series long, Oklahoma City must play with tempo and get back on defense. For as good as Houston was from beyond the arc on Saturday, they still had 44 points in the paint, and Eric Gordon, who was struggling from three, found ways to score with midrange jumpers and going to the rim. The Thunder must also find a way to stop the bleeding in the third quarter. Through five games, Houston has a 149-121 advantage during the third frame.

"Third quarters coming out certainly could be better; there's no question I think that's something we've been challenged with," Donovan said. "Certainly staring games or starting the third quarter better, there's something there, but I don't know if necessarily just changing the starting lineup helps that as much as collectively as a group we all gotta be better."

Expect Donovan to be quicker on the trigger. If Oklahoma City has another rough shooting night, don't be surprised if he sacrifices some defense for the offense by taking Dort off the floor for Schroder, or even if he puts Adams on the sidelines and goes small.

We could see more of Darius Bazley and Mike Muscala; Donovan has to coach like there is no tomorrow because there isn't.

First Quarter:

No changes to the starting lineup, not a shock; it's straightforward if they don't get out to a good start in the first five minutes, you make adjustments. Wouldn't you give anything to be at Thunder practice just to see Steven Adams screen Lu Dort?

Dort picking up his third foul, and while it will cost Oklahoma City on defense, you have to be good with not having him as an offensive liability. The Thunder, much like Game 5, is giving up too many easy points in the paint. Over half of Houston's points have come in the paint.

Just throwing this out there, is there any reason Gallinari couldn't play 48 minutes tonight? It might seem insane, but's win or go home, and he already has seven 7 points in 9 minutes. Look, it's Terrance Ferguson, no Dort, and Dre looked so slow in Game 1, Donovan had no choice but to play Ferguson.

25-24 Houston at the end of one quarter. Didn't know what to expect from the Thunder tonight, but so far, they've cleaned up a lot of mistakes other than letting Harden get to the rim any time he wanted.

Second Quarter:

Oklahoma City is picking up where Draymond Green left off with all the shots to the nether regions of Rockets' players. Beautiful euro step by Bazley when going to the rim.

It took until the sixth game of the series, for the first time, you don't feel like Houston is dictating the way the game is being played.

Here is the big problem with this game, Oklahoma City has not fished strong in either quarter, that's a problem if this game stays close in the fourth quarter. And Gordon just hit that corner three to give Houston the lead at the half.

Steven Adams is having his best game of the series; just hope the Thunder don't waste it, or the game from Gallinari.

51-48 Rockets lead at the half.

Third Quarter:

Dort 0 for 2 from downtown tonight, that's a heck of an improvement. Houston 5-0 in the early going of the third lead up to eight at 56-48. Feels like they're about to make another big run.

Harden getting teed up, Thunder needs a stop on this possession...and didn't get it.

Where the heck was this thrid quarter effort in games 1-5? Chris Paul going Dion Watiers with the ''and one!" while thinking he got fouled.

Billy Donovan has no reason to take Gallinari off the court tonight. None, you can't coach like you are going to paly a game on Wednesday, because if he's on the bench, you won't be.

Don't look now, but OKC is on an 8-0 and Dort has six of those points.

Fourth Quarter:

We'll have more coverage after the game on Inside the Thunder.