Fortunate Spurs look to force Game 7

The San Antonio Spurs were down to their last gasp Wednesday night as they tried to stave off elimination from these NBA playoffs, then got a clutch game-tying 3-pointer from, of all people on that very veteran team, a rookie. San Antonio then went on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime 110-103, which sets up Game 6 of that Western Conference first-round series Friday night back in Memphis (9 pm Eastern, ESPN).

The Spurs led Memphis by 16 points midway through the second quarter Wednesday night, but let the Grizzlies come all the way back to take the lead late in the third quarter. And Memphis led by five with just under two minutes to go in the game.

But Manu Ginobili hit an unbelievable shot from the corner with two seconds left to keep San Antonio alive, and after a couple of Zach Randolph free-throws, Spurs G Gary Neal, a rookie from Towson by way of the European league, calmly canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the buzzer to force overtime.

San Antonio then took a two-point lead into the final 20 seconds of OT, and hit five free-throws in foul time at the end to sneak off with a very fortunate cover as 6.5-point favorites on the oddsmaker.ag NBA playoff betting line.

In fact, of the nine games these two teams have played this season, Wednesday night was the first time the Spurs covered the pointspread.

And while San Antonio is now 4-5 straight-up vs. the Grizzlies this season, two of those victories came in overtime.

Looking ahead to Saturday we could have our first Game 7s of these playoffs.

If the Magic, down three games to two, can win in Atlanta on Thursday night, those teams will go back to Orlando for a series finale on Saturday.

If the Trail Blazers can beat the Mavericks at home on Thursday night those teams will head back to Dallas for a Game 7 on Saturday.

And if the Hornets beat the Lakers in New Orleans on Thursday night those teams will go back to Los Angeles for their Game 7 on Saturday.

As of Thursday morning oddsmaker.ag is listing the Magic as 2-point road favorites for Thursday night's game vs. the Hawks, with a total of 178.5. Four of the first five games in this series have played UNDER their totals.

The Lakers are favored by 5.5 points over the Hornets for Thursday night's game, with a total of 184. New Orleans is also getting +200 on the oddsmaker.ag NBA moneyline.

And Portland is favored by 4.5 points for Thursday night over Dallas, with a total of 182. The Mavericks are 4-0-1 ATS in this series.