No one really expected the Philadelphia 76ers, an aging team who traded away their only superstar last year, to make the playoffs, much less hold their own against the vaunted Detroit Pistons.
In fact, their hometown newspaper, the Inquirer, predicted they’d be booted out of the playoffs in just five games.
But the 76ers enter tonight’s Game 6 against the Pistons at 8 p.m. on TNT with a fair chance to tie things up and send their first-round series to a decisive Game 7. Detroit leads it, 3-2.
At one point, No. 7 seed Philadelphia held a 2-1 series lead on the second-seeded Pistons, the 2004 NBA champs, who then rebounded to win two straight. Tonight’s game takes place in Philly, where the 76ers beat the Pistons during the final weeks of the regular season, 101-94, to end a five-game home losing streak to Detroit.
Philadelphia’s best shot at a win will come if it manages to score more than 100 points, which it has yet to do this series. The 76ers have won more than three-quarters of their games this season when they topped the century mark.
The game is likely to do well for TNT tonight even though it faces tough competition from ABC, CBS and NBC. Through the first eight days of NBA playoffs coverage, the most recent numbers available, TNT is averaging a 2.1 household rating, up 20 percent over last year. Ratings have risen even more compared with last year among adults 18-49, up 30 percent.
The Pistons-76ers series is one of four first-round faceoffs that have yet to be decided. The winner of this series will face the Orlando Magic, who beat the Toronto Raptors in five games.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, MAY 1
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 p.m.
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ESPN2
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“MLS Soccer” (S)
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New York takes on Toronto up north.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Ugly Betty” (D)
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Renee becomes convinced that Betty is in love with Daniel. But girlfriend’s already got enough problems with her two men.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“My Name is Earl” (C)
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Darnell and Joy move into the Crab Shack.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“CSI” (D)
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The team looks into a string of murders in which all the victims have green blood.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)
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Addison makes an appearance to perform a surgery, and get into other drama, of course.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“The Office” (C)
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Stanley yells at Michael during a meeting, so Michael tries to change his attitude.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Lost” (D)
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Kate and Juliet have to work together to save Jack.
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FRIDAY, MAY 2
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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Payne’s wife’s ghost gets jealous when an ex of his shows up.
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8 p.m.
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CMT
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“Can You Duet” (R)
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Twelve teams of two are coached by Aimee Mayo then compete in front of judges.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Duel” (G)
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A two-time champion returns to win more money.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“Moonlight” (D)
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Mick works for an actress who thinks the paparazzi are going too far.
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10 p.m.
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Sci Fi Channel
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“Battlestar Galactica” (D)
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Kara and her crew become tense as they search for Earth.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“Numb3rs” (D)
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The feds look into a mass suicide at a cult compound.
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SATURDAY, MAY 3
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Third round of the Wachovia Championship, from Charlotte, N.C.
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3:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Either Cubs-Cards, Orioles-Angels or Mets-Diamondbacks.
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5 p.m.
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NBC
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“Horse Racing” (S)
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The Kentucky Derby, live from Churchill Downs.
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7 p.m.
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Fox
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“NASCAR Racing” (S)
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The Crown Royal Dan Lowry 400 from Richmond, Va.
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8 p.m.
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Biography
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“Mobsters” (N)
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A look at the life of Henry Hill, the main character from the movie “Goodfellas.”
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10 p.m.
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HBO
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“Boxing” (S)
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Oscar De La Hoya takes on former “Contender” contestant Steve Forbes.
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SUNDAY, MAY 4
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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1 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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The first of an NBA playoff doubleheader, teams still to be determined.
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3 p.m.
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CBS
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Final round of the Wachovia Championship, won by Tiger Woods a year ago.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Cold Case” (D)
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Season finale. A former addict thinks she sees her son at the park, despite the fact that he supposedly died three years earlier.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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Lisa makes a film about her family then takes it to Sundance.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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Lynette finds out who started the fire at Rick’s restaurant.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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“Celebracadabra” (R)
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The celebrities do magic tricks for an elementary school.
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10 p.m.
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Showtime
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“This American Life” (N)
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Season premiere. Teens in Philly use a method of transportation that hasn’t been used since the 19th century.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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