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The Los Angeles Lakers will look to avoid a potential Game 7 when they take on the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center tonight.

We break down Kalshi’s win probability markets and deliver some Lakers vs. Rockets predictions to help guide your NBA picks for Friday, May 1.

Who will win Lakers vs Rockets Game 6?

Lakers win probability:61% (-156)
Rockets win probability:40% (+140)

The Lakers are 10-4 SU and ATS in their last 14 games as underdogs, and the Rockets are trading at 61¢ to take this series to the brink. 

Our prediction:Lakers to win

"The Rockets have rallied, but Reaves’ return in Game 5 gives L.A. an extra attacker, and he’ll look much sharper in Game 6 after shaking off the rust."

Read more in Jason Logan's full Lakers vs. Rockets predictions.

More Lakers vs Rockets prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Lakers vs. Rockets at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Rockets -X.X spread means the Rockets will cover, while "No" means the Lakers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Lakers vs Rockets spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Rockets -2.5 — No

"The Lakers will clean up their play with sharper shooting and fewer turnovers. Those miscues have gifted Houston 48 total points across the past two outings. The Rockets have capitalized on those mistakes for easy buckets, but they struggle when forced into a half-court game."

Other Lakers vs Rockets prediction markets available

• LeBron James 20+ points (Yes: 66¢)
• Alperen Sengun 6+ assists (Yes: 59¢)
• Deandre Ayton 10+ rebounds (Yes: 41¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts," which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Rockets win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Lakers vs Rockets at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers walking away from Game 5 with a 3-2 series lead, they still haven’t fully instilled confidence as a bona fide contender. In many ways, Cleveland’s wins have felt more tied to Toronto’s limitations and mistakes than the Cavaliers consistently imposing their own identity and style of basketball over extended stretches of play.

The clearest example of Cleveland playing “their brand of basketball” came in the second half of Game 5. But even that performance came with important context: Toronto was without Brandon Ingram and relying on a clearly limited Scottie Barnes.

That makes Game 6 especially important for Cleveland’s postseason outlook. The key question isn’t simply whether the Cavaliers can close out the series, but whether that second-half surge in Game 5 reflected the team discovering a sustainable level of play without Donovan Mitchell, or if it was merely the product of a compromised Toronto roster.

To Cleveland’s credit, the Eastern Conference as a whole has hardly looked dominant in the first round. Detroit has pushed Orlando to the brink, while Boston and Philadelphia are going to Game 7. Because of that, the Cavaliers still have a viable playoff path if they can establish some consistency moving forward.

A familiar frustration for Cavaliers fans is that this roster never truly had the benefit of continuity throughout the regular season. Because of injuries and lineup instability, Cleveland has essentially been forced to troubleshoot in real time during this series, experimenting with combinations deep into the postseason to determine what actually works. The challenge with postseason lineup data is that the sample sizes are so small that it becomes difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from it.

Without a reliable regular-season foundation to lean on, the Cavaliers have been adjusting game by game — and at times quarter by quarter. That’s what made the second half of Game 5 so intriguing. Cleveland leaned more heavily into interior play, trusted offensive movement, and played with a level of freedom that had largely been absent earlier in the series.

When the Cavaliers avoid letting the rigidity of postseason basketball hijack the natural flow of their offense, they look far more dynamic. In previous seasons, there is almost no scenario where Dennis Schröder takes over a pivotal fourth quarter while Donovan Mitchell comfortably plays off the ball as more of a spectator. Likewise, Evan Mobley confidently stepping into no-hesitation threes late in a high-leverage game signals a level of offensive trust and adaptability that Cleveland has not consistently shown in past playoff runs.

There are legitimate signs of evolution and meaningful change within this team. The question now is whether that second-half breakthrough was simply a one-game solution against a depleted Raptors team, or if it can become a legitimate blueprint for how Cleveland wants to play moving forward.

That’s why so much weight falls on Game 6. It’s less about fearing a potential Game 7 against Toronto and more about what another loss would represent: a team that still lacks a clear understanding of itself and remains unable to consistently execute the identity it wants to play with.

Over the last five quarters of this series, I haven’t recognized this version of the Celtics. While there have been flashes, they haven’t consistently looked like the team that got them here.

So far in these playoffs, Boston has the third-highest isolation frequency among playoff teams. For a roster built around depth and decision-making, that feels wrong. When they’re at their best, the offense starts with paint touches, forces rotations, and moves into second and third options. In this series, too many possessions have flattened out. One matchup targeted early, four teammates spaced and stationary.

Against Philadelphia, that simplifies their job defensively. The other four defenders don’t have to rotate. They can stay home, conserve energy, and stay organized. That energy shows up on the other end.

You can see it in the shot profile. The Celtics are taking 53% of their shots from three, the highest rate of any team in the playoffs, and averaging seven more attempts per game than the next closest team, Oklahoma City.

The volume isn’t new. It’s a big reason Banner 18 is hanging in TD Garden. But the way those shots are being created feels different.

Earlier in the year, those looks came after the defense had already shifted. Paint touch, kickout, extra pass. In this series, too many of them are coming earlier in the clock, without forcing that initial rotation. And even when the looks are there, they haven’t consistently fallen. Boston is shooting 41.9% on wide-open shots in the playoffs, defined as no defender within six feet.

That combination puts more heat and pressure on each individual possession.

The defensive activity isn’t there

The defensive numbers tell a similar story.

The Celtics are last among playoff teams in deflections per game, and the gap is significant. They’re averaging roughly six fewer deflections per game than Minnesota, which ranks second to last. That same six-deflection gap exists between Minnesota and Orlando, which ranks second overall in these playoffs.

During the regular season, Boston averaged 15.2 deflections per game. That level of activity disrupted actions early and forced teams into late-clock decisions. That hasn’t carried over. Without consistent pressure, Philadelphia has been able to initiate offense cleanly. Entry passes are easier. Actions start on time. The Celtics aren’t forcing the same level of hesitation.

It shows up on the perimeter as well. Boston is last in the playoffs in contested three-point attempts per game after finishing eighth in the regular season. Philadelphia has flipped that, ranking first after being middle of the pack.

Those numbers match what the possessions look like. The Sixers are closing harder and getting into bodies. The Celtics haven’t created the same level of disruption.

Game 6 showed how small edges add up

Game 6 was a series of small advantages that all leaned the same way.

Philadelphia finished with seven more shot attempts. Boston generated almost no second chances, finishing with one offensive rebound on 20 missed shots. Over the first five games, they had rebounded 37 percent of their misses. In Game 6, that dropped to five percent.

That’s a swing in possessions that’s hard to overcome.

The individual numbers reflect it, too. Derrick White finished as a minus-25. Jaylen Brown was a minus-24. I don’t look at +/- as the be-all and end-all stat, but it does indicate that these subpar stretches added up over the course of the night.

From the Celtics’ perspective, the explanation wasn’t complicated.

Payton Pritchard described the situation simply afterward, saying the momentum doesn’t carry the same weight in a Game 7 setting. “It means nothing. It’s one game,” he said. “It’s like the NCAA Tournament — gotta win one or go home. So it’s the only thing on our mind.”

Jaylen Brown echoed that framing, focusing less on what’s already happened and more on what shows up next. “Game 7 is a game amongst itself,” he said. “The rest of the series doesn’t matter. It’s gonna be who’s gonna show up on that day and be a better performing team.”

There’s also an understanding internally that the issues aren’t hard to identify.

“There’s definitely some stuff I see that I can improve,” Brown said.

Even Joe Mazzulla’s decision late in Game 6, one that drew some outside reaction, reflected the same underlying belief in the group. He pointed back to what the team has been all season. “All year we’ve had 14–15 guys be able to impact winning,” he said. “Just wanted to give the game a different look.”

That idea, that the solutions are already on the roster and already part of their identity, is consistent with what the numbers are showing.

Game 7 is about getting back to Celtics basketball

A win on Saturday won’t require the invention of a new system or a massive adjustment that goes against their true identity.

The version of the Celtics that won all year played through the paint first. They trusted the next pass. They created advantages through movement and patience. Defensively, they were active, getting hands on the ball and forcing teams out of rhythm. That version just hasn’t been consistent enough in this series.

Game 7 doesn’t need to be complicated.

The Celtics don’t need to find something new. They simply need to return to what’s already worked, and trust it long enough for it to show up again.

If they do, the team that delighted us all season should be able to delight us once more.

If they don’t, this will feel like a continuation of what’s already happened, and a shocking end to what was a surprisingly great regular season.

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The Orlando Magic will look to advance to the second round for the first time since 2010 when they host the Detroit Pistons at the Kia Center tonight.

We break down Kalshi’s win probability markets and deliver some Pistons vs. Magic predictions to help guide your NBA picks for Friday, May 1.

Who will win Pistons vs Magic Game 6?

Pistons win probability:61% (-156)
Magic win probability:40% (+150)

Finishing the regular season with the No. 1 seed in the East, the Pistons are trading at 61¢ to stave off elimination and force a Game 7 back in the Motor City.

Our prediction:Magic to win

"Orlando entered the 2025-26 season seen by some as a possible Eastern Conference contender. Then injuries and frustrations knocked the Magic into the Play-In Tournament, while the Pistons surged to the top of the East. But perhaps this series represents a return to priors. And if so, Orlando should prevail in Game 6."

Read more in Douglas Farmer's full Pistons vs. Magic predictions.

More Pistons vs Magic prediction markets

You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Pistons vs. Magic at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.

You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Pistons -4.5 spread means the Pistons will cover, while "No" means the Magic will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter).

Pistons vs Magic spread and total at prediction markets

Our predictions:Pistons -4.5 — No

"Orlando is 4-1 against the spread in this series, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 7.1 points."

Other Pistons vs Magic prediction markets available

• Paulo Banchero 25+ points (Yes: 46¢)
• Desmond Bane 4+ threes (Yes: 25¢)
• Jalen Duren 10+ rebounds (Yes: 45¢)

What is Kalshi and how does it work?

Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts," which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Magic win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.

How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.

Why should I wager on Pistons vs Magic at Kalshi?

Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:

1. Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
   
   
2. Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
   
   
3. Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
   
   
4. Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Three former Kentucky Wildcats have received invites to the NBA Combine.

Malachi Moreno, Otega Oweh, and Jayden Quaintance are among 73 players who have been invited to the combine this year to work out in front of NBA scouts and front-office personnel.

The player most Kentucky fans will be watching closely is Moreno. Moreno has been penciled in as a returning starter and key piece for this Kentucky team next season, but if he impresses NBA personnel in the pre-draft process, those plans may not seem as solid as originally thought.

Moreno could benefit from another year in college as he continues to get stronger and improve his game, but no doubt fans will be keeping an eye on him in the pre-draft process.

There are a couple of other names of interest to Kentucky fans that have been invited to the combine.

Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, and Baylor forward Tounde Yessoufou were all invited to the combine. Those three players also entered the transfer portal, and are considered possibilities to return to college, although recent reports have indicated Yessoufou plans to remain in the draft.

It’s more likely than not that all three remain in the draft, but if any of those three decide to return to college, they will be highly coveted players in the transfer portal.

When the playoffs started a couple of weeks ago, I thought there was no way we would be looking at the possibility of a Game 7 in Round 1. If you told me it was the Pistons needing to win to force that Game 7, I would have called you crazy. However, that is the reality for the Pistons.

It is no longer a 7-game series, but a single-elimination tournament against the same team. No room for mistakes, no chance to redeem yourself if you have a bad game. Win and you have a chance to bring the series back home and send the Orlando Magic packing. Lose and you become one of the seven number one seeds to lose to the eight seed. You will enter a Summer full of questions and have to face the reality that this may have been your best shot at making the NBA Finals in a weaker East at the top.

The pressure is on the Pistons to perform. The Magic will once again be short-handed without Franz Wagner, but as they proved last game, they can still put up a fight without him.

Let’s get this series back home.

Game Vitals

Where: Kia Center in Orlando, FL
When: Friday, May 1 at 7 pm EST
Watch: Amazon Prime
Odds: Pistons (-3.5)

Analysis

As I mentioned above, the Orlando Magic will once again be without Franz Wagner due to the calf injury he suffered in Game 4. Given what has happened with players recently who have suffered calf injuries, I would suspect we would not see Franz in a potential game 7, but I guess that remains to be seen and ultimately may not matter if the Pistons aren’t ready to play tonight.

The Pistons injury report is not clean either as Tobias Harris is questionable with an ankle injury. I would assume that he plays given the circumstances, but if he does not play the Pistons will be facing an uphill battle offensively, as he has been their number 2 option throughout the series.

Luckily for the Pistons, the Magic had much less success slowing down Cade Cunningham without Franz Wagner’s size and strength. The Magic threw a slew of defenders at Cade in Game 5 and nobody had any success as he went off for a Pistons’ Franchise Record 45 points and did it on high efficiency. He was 13-of-23 from the field, 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 14-of-14 from the free throw line.

Cade has been successful scoring the ball throughout the series, but it came on poor 3-point shooting and low efficiency with a mind-numbing amount of turnovers. Cunningham still turned over the ball 6 times in Game 5, but they were not as damaging as the 24 turnovers he had over the previous 3 games since Orlando had less success with scoring off of them.

A noticeable change the Pistons made in Game 5 was allowing Ausar Thompson to play on the ball more while Cade Cunningham played off the ball. This allowed Cade to hunt mismatches, which he obviously had a lot of success with. The most important development from Thompson being on the ball is it allowed him to push the pace on rebounds, which scrambled Orlando’s defense and opened up the offense a bit, they also could not have Thompson’s man roam as much off ball to reek havoc in the passing lanes because they had to guard Thompson. When he is camped out in the corner, he is not a threat to shoot and you can get away with not guarding him since he won’t beat you from deep.

Some of the above is also likely due to the loss of Franz Wagner, who has done a fantastic job defending Cade Cunningham throughout the series. He is pretty much the only defender on Orlando’s roster that has the size, strength, and defensive chops to stay in front of Cade without needing much help.

The main reason why the Magic were able to keep Game 5 close and even almost steal it at the end is because of an out-of-body shooting night from Paolo Banchero. Banchero has a reputation as being a “playoff-riser,” but he rose to a level far beyond even his best playoff performance of his young career. He did absolutely everything for Orlando on offense. It started with drives to the basket that the Pistons could not stop. That lead to the Pistons bringing an extra defender to slow him down which opened up wide open 3s for the other players on the team who actually made them. Finally, in the 4th, Paolo was unconscious from 3 and many of them were pretty contested attempts.

It led to a 45% shooting night for the Magic from beyond the arc, which I don’t expect them to replicate given their 3-point shooting numbers on the season. If the Pistons are unable to find a way to slow down Paolo Banchero, the Magic have a shot at repeating what they did on Wednesday. It is one thing to overcome a shooting night like that when you are on your home floor, but it is another thing to try to do it on the road.

If Tobias Harris is unable to play, the Pistons may want to consider starting Isaiah Stewart at the 4 since he has the size and movement skills on the perimeter to at least slow down Paolo Banchero. It may lead to a disastrous night offensively, but I think that would be the case with anybody you start in place of Tobias Harris.

Game 5 was a thriller between two young superstars trying to will their team to the win and Game 6 likely has to have a similar formula. If the Pistons are forced to play without Tobias Harris, I have a hard time seeing how they can generate enough offense to win.

Jalen Duren probably had his best game of the series on Wednesday, but he still only scored 12 points on 6 shots and grabbed 9 rebounds. In theory, he should be the one to take on Tobias Harris’ scoring load if he cannot play, but he has given no reason to believe he can do that during this series.

Let’s hope Tobias Harris guts out the injury and the Pistons are able to steal a win on the road and bring it home for a Game 7.

Lineups

Detroit Pistons (2-3): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Orlando Magic (3-2): Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr

Question of the Day

This one is pretty easy, will the Pistons force a Game 7?

Most Knicks fans are younger than 65, meaning most have never seen this team win a championship. If you’re 40 or under, you missed Patrick Ewing. Any fan not yet old enough to vote wasn’t following Linsanity. But any Knick fan of any age who tuned in to last night’s rare bird of a Game 6 in Atlanta left with a brilliant feather in their cap: they witnessed the greatest single-game performance in franchise history — maybe league history.

An in-game graphic said the Knicks/Hawks game was one of 73,041 NBA games ever, regular-season and postseason. Winning in the most dominating fashion ever means accomplishing something that hasn’t happened 99.9999863091% of the time.

There were 14 unanswered points after the Hawks led 11-9, their last lead of the series and the season. That branched into a 17-2 burst by the visitors, who followed that up with with a 20-4 run. Zoom out a little and you’ll see all those separate rivulets of rampage merge into one long river flow, a.k.a. the Knicks outscoring the Hawks 67-14 over 16 first-half minutes.

The first thing Seth told me when I started writing recaps was not to drown them in numbers. Readers don’t go to the recap for stats; the box score’s got that covered. Numbers rarely, if ever, tell the story as truthfully and as colorfully as words.

Comrades: any one of a thousand numbers will tell you the story of last night. A few of the higher-quality gemstones:

• Their 47-point halftime lead was the largest in playoff history.
• Same with their 53-point lead after the third quarter.
• Their biggest lead was 61, a playoff record in the play-by-play era (1996-97).
• Their 140 points is a new franchise high.
• OG Anunoby scored 26 in the first half. Atlanta didn’t score that many until the game was more than 20 minutes in.
• With his second triple-double this week, Karl-Anthony Towns joined Walt Frazier as the only Knicks with multiple triple-doubles in the same postseason.
• KAT was so in the groove playmaking that he didn’t score his first field goal until the Knicks were up 60. Not gonna research this, but I’m pretty sure that’s the first time in league history a team went up 60 before one of their future Hall of Famers had made a single basket.
• The Hawks averaged 14.2 turnovers a game this season, a solid number (10th in the league). They committed 14 in the first half. If you ever wondered how you and your friends would look playing an NBA team, re-watch the first quarter last night. The Hawks didn’t just struggle to score. It was a moral victory when they even got a shot off, with most of their efforts tightly contested and involving way too much east-to-west action. Usually when one team bosses another, I imagine a varsity team schooling the JV squad. This was more like watching the Knicks play the JV.
• Two players in the entire league averaged two steals a game this season: Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson. By halftime, five Knicks already had multiple steals: OG with four, and KAT, Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Jose Alvarado each with two.
• Pacôme Djenon Dadiet score more points in eight minutes than two Atlanta starters (Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu) did all night.
• 15 Knicks scored. None played more than 29 minutes.

I could go on, but there are decency laws.

I stopped cheering about halfway through the second quarter. Joy morphed into awe, and I mean awe in its original, terrified meaning — not scared, but aware that you are in the presence of something you didn’t think was real, or you never expected to encounter. Imagine a friend, a good friend, not a best friend but someone you always enjoyed, knocked on your door today after being dead 10 years. You’d pro’ly feel a kind of elation. But it’d def be stir-fried up with some WTFs. 

That’s how I felt last night. I don’t think I thought an NBA team could ever be up 60-19. Or up by 50-plus in the first half. And the effort never flagged. The Knicks were still flying around hustling up 60.

The one and only snag in the evening, or two, really, center on center Mitchell Robinson. He left for the locker room in the first half after landing awkwardly and hurting his ankle. Then he got elbowed in the chest by Daniels, who was wrapped up with Robinson and tried to throw him off, which is like me resenting that oak tree in front of me and trying to shove it out of my way. Mitch handled things well, I thought. Okongwu grabbed him from behind, which Richard Jefferson saw as a noble act of de-escalation; if you wanna turn the temperature down on the room, grab your man. Don’t be grabbing the other team.

Daniels — or maybe Jalen Johnson — must’ve said something, because after the initial shoves and whistles and swarming bodies came and went, Robinson felt the spirit move within him and the spirit was moving him back in the direction of his enemies. Given the league’s newfound (and grudgingly embraced) relaxed attitude in not suspending players for leaving the bench during altercations, one would hope with no punches thrown, both players ejected and no further shenanigans that Mitch will be available (and healthy) come Round 2.

Put a pin in these Hawks. They don’t figure to be going away anytime soon. They probably hit their ceiling this year, and they have reason to expect to keep moving on up next. They own the better of New Orleans and Milwaukee’s lottery pick. Their only rotation player not under contract or a team option next year is CJ McCollum, who Atlanta can likely bring back for closer to $20 million annually than the $30 million he made this year. Jonathan Kuminga, Mouhamed Gueye and Zaccharie Risacher all have team options. Jalen Johnson played all night like his team was down one. There’s something there.

As for what’s next for New York, we blessedly do not know. Won’t know till Saturday night, because somewhere out there some animal saw its shadow, and thus this spring there’s spring in Joel Embiid’s step. The heavily favored Celtics will face the Sixers in Game 7 instead of resting like our ‘bockers. It’s their bad luck to have encountered a foe more rarely seen in this world than the black mamba or the giant squid: a healthy 76ers. Can’t see Philly pulling it off. Then again, I didn’t think they could win Game 5 or 6.

Who would you rather play? What stood out to you last night? Did it change your expectations for the Knicks Quoth DavidLeebound22: “We witnessed Halley’s Comet.” When the solar eclipse hit a few years ago, it was the afternoon where I live. I will never forget the sound of alllllll of nature going silent when the sun disappeared, or the feeling it gave me. I felt the same last night. I may never live to see the Knicks win a ‘chip. But I’ve seen them play the game at the highest level possible, at the highest level possible. Last night was Mozart. It was Monk. It was indescribable.

The Orlando Magic will be without forward Franz Wagner for Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons with a right calf strain.

The Magic lead the Eastern Conference first-round best-of-seven series three games to two. Orlando has not advanced past the first round in the playoffs since 2010.

Wagner was injured during the third quarter of Orlando's 94-88 win in Game 4. He scored 19 points before leaving the game and has not played since.

Detroit, the top seed in the East, staved off elimination for at least one more game with a 116-109 victory in Game 5 behind Cade Cunningham's 45 points, a Pistons single-game playoff record.

Brandon Ingram has been downgraded to doubtful ahead of Game 6 between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.

The forward has reportedly been dealing with heel inflammation since March 23, during which he missed the 143-127 win over the Utah Jazz. It was the second game of a back-to-back. The night before, Ingram played 27 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and finished with six points on 30 per cent shooting.

Ingram also missed games against the Orlando Magic (Mar. 29) and the Sacramento Kings (Apr. 1) due to the same heel injury.

His struggles this post-season have been notoriously documented. Ingram is averaging only 12.0 points on 11.6 attempts and 32.7 per cent from the field.

While Raptors fans may find solace in a possible answer for his slump, the injury update will likely put the team at a disadvantage headed into tonight’s elimination game.

The absence of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic hasn't affected the team so far in their first-round Western Conference matchup against the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers took the first three games of the series, but have dropped the last two, including a 99-93 loss in Game 5.

The Rockets are looking to become the first NBA team to force a Game 7 since the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. Each of the three previous NBA teams that forced a series finale down 0-3 lost Game 7.

Doncic was injured on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and hasn't played since.

Should the Lakers advance, their opponent will be the Thunder, who beat Los Angeles in all four regular-season meetings, winning by an average of 22 points per game. Doncic is not expected to be ready for the start of that series because of the injury.

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Welcome to the Friday night pressure cooker, with three tasty Game 6s on tap, big-name reputations on the line, and a bonanza of NBA player props to dissect.

The Cavaliers will try to close out Collin Murray-Boyles and the frisky Toronto Raptors, while Desmond Bane and the Magic look to send the Pistons packing.

Then there’s LeBron James and the L.A. Lakers feeling the heat as a 3-0 series lead slips away.

Here are my favorite NBA picks for the May 1 action. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Desmond Bane	Over 2.5 3-pointers	+110
Collin Murray-Boyles	Over 6.5 rebounds	-112
LeBron James	Over 22.5 points	-112

Prop #1: Desmond Bane Over 2.5 3-pointers

+110 at bet365

The Magic have the Pistons on the ropes, but they’ll need the best of Desmond Bane to land the knockout punch tonight, especially with Franz Wagner ruled out.

Bane is only shooting 38% from the field overall in this series, but he’s making his 3-pointers at a 43% clip. 

Given his up-and-down points tallies, I prefer the Over on his triples here. He’s cashed this prop in three straight outings while making 16 of his 29 attempts from downtown.

After Paolo Banchero’s 45-point eruption in Game 5, we could see Detroit make some defensive adjustments to pack the paint, and any double teams would open up a little extra space for Bane from deep.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #2: Collin Murray-Boyles Over 6.5 rebounds

-112 at bet365

Collin Murray-Boyles has looked right at home from the moment he stepped into the playoff cauldron, and he’s a key man here as the Raptors try to force a Game 7.

CMB has been a beast in the paint, with 7+ rebounds in three of the last four contests despite battling Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, and he’s blown past this O/U number in both outings at Scotiabank Arena.

Foul trouble limited him to 26 minutes in Game 5, but he could be looking at his biggest workload of the series tonight, given his ability to switch onto the Cleveland guards and Jakob Poeltl’s struggles defending the pick and roll.

Murray-Boyles grabbed five offensive boards in Sunday’s win, and there should be rebounds up for grabs after the Cavs shot a combined 40% from the field in their two losses in Toronto.

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: LeBron James Over 22.5 points

-112 at bet365

Look for LeBron James to come out in attack mode in Game 6, with growing fears that the Lakers could become the first team to blow a 3-0 lead. He won’t want that on his resume in the same week that he’s brought up the G.O.A.T. conversation again.

Even with Austin Reaves returning, L.A. needs James to be a high-volume shooter, and I like this Over on the heels of 25+ points in three of his past four games. LeBron’s slump from beyond the arc is a concern, but there are still positives for the Lakers if it nudges him into the post more often.

He’s shooting 51% on 2-pointers in this series, and that’s the recipe for JJ Redick’s men to escape with a victory here.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Prime Video

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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LeBron James and his loveable band of misfits built a shocking 3-0 series lead over the Houston Rockets, much like the script from some 90’s Disney movie. 

The past two games, however, have been more like a horror flick for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston has rallied to force a Game 6 showdown at home, and even with Austin Reaves returning for L.A., the Rockets are favorites to send this series to seven games.

I dive into the player markets for my best Lakers vs. Rockets props and NBA picks for Friday, May 1.

Best Lakers vs Rockets props for Game 6

Player	Pick
Luke Kennard	Over 1.5 threes	+140
Alperen Sengun	Over 6.5 assists	+110
Tari Eason	Under 7.5 rebounds	-125

Game 6 Prop #1: Luke Kennard Over 1.5 threes

+140 at bet365

Luke Kennard made the biggest splash among the Los Angeles Lakers’ role players early in this series. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out, Kennard stepped into the starting lineup and knocked down eight of his first 11 attempts from deep. 

The past three games haven’t been as kind to Kennard, who is a collective 1-for-11 from beyond the arc since Game 3. 

After such a hot start to the playoffs, the Lakers haven’t shot the ball well as a team, but I expect this up-and-down success to level out in Game 6. 

Kennard still played 30+ minutes with Reaves back in the rotation in Game 5, and it’s not like the Houston Rockets are clamping down on the perimeter. Over the past three games, 10 of Kennard's 11 3PAs have been graded as “open” to “wide open”, with the closest defender at least four feet away.

Projections for Game 6 range from 1.6 to 2.1 makes from beyond the arc from Kennard, with a healthy plus-money return on the Over.

Game 6 Prop #2: Alperen Sengun Over 6.5 assists

+110 at bet365

Alperen Sengun dished out eight assists in the Rockets’ win on Wednesday, and the Turkish center has been their most active passer in the series. Sengun has registered 61 potential assists through five games, with Houston converting those setups into 27 actual dimes.

His teammates made good on eight of 16 potential assists in Game 5, which is impressive considering how poorly the Rockets shot the ball in that slog of a win. 

The return home tonight will give Houston a bump in field goal success (48.1% at home vs. 46.9% on the road), which means more of those potential plays will translate into buckets. Sengun’s projections all sit north of 6.5 dimes, with a ceiling of seven assists in Game 6.

You can find expensive Over 5.5 or plus-money Over 6.5 totals across the market. Shop around for what you’re comfortable with.

Game 6 Prop #3: Tari Eason Under 7.5 rebounds 

-125 at bet365

Tari Eason has been excellent defensively during the Rockets’ turnaround. He’s drawn the daunting assignment of guarding LeBron while also cleaning the glass, averaging seven rebounds in the series.

Eason hit the boards hard in the opening two games, pulling down 18 total rebounds on 23 rebounding chances — a sharp surge from his season average. Over the past three games, he’s collected 17 total rebounds on 28 chances, including five boards on just nine rebounding chances in Game 5.

With Eason primarily guarding James, his floor positioning shifts with Reaves back in the L.A. rotation. LeBron takes over as the primary ball handler, playing more on the perimeter while Reaves looks to attack the Houston interior.

As a result, Eason is pulled out to the perimeter, which helps explain why his rebounding opportunities dipped with Reaves back in Game 5 — and why his projections fall short of tonight’s rebounding total. The 6-foot-6 forward is forecasted for around seven boards, with most models sitting south of 7.0.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

I don’t even know why we make any other prediction than Knicks in Six anymore.

It don’t make sense. Don’t make it make sense.

Just keep winning theeem gaaaaaaames!!!

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s versatility:

“His versatility is huge whether it’s offensively or defensively. Offensively, he pushes the basketball. He helps us play faster. Defensively, he gives us versatility. You can move him around because of how strong he is and the feel he has on that end of the floor. And then because of his ability to rebound, if you want to cross match and put a smaller guy on him, he can impact the game by hitting the glass.”

On Hart’s physical profile:

“It’s what you look for to have guys that are all 6-8, 6-9, tough and can all bring a lot of things to the table for you. Josh might disagree with his size so he might not be 6-8 or 6-9 but with his strength and toughness, he’s talented physically and he plays the right way, so he gives you those things, even though he is 6-foot-5.”

On OG Anunoby’s consistency:

“It’s huge. Again, he had a double-double (in Game 5), but he impacted the game at such a high level. He impacted it in ways that you can’t even really tell, because it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. We need him, and he’s definitely been about as consistent as you’d hope and expect. And we need every ounce of his consistency at the highest level.”

On Quin Snyder and the Hawks making the Knicks better:

“I’ve got to give [Hawks head coach] Quin Snyder and his staff a lot of credit. They forced us — when I say us I mean not just our players, our coaches — they forced us to find ways to help the team be better. Sometimes when you win you make adjustments. Sometimes when you lose you make adjustments. You’re always trying to figure out how can we put our team in a better position to help them succeed on the floor. Not to say we have it figured out, but every single time that we step on the floor we’re trying to do that. We’re watching film, going through a million different hypotheticals, which you don’t do during the regular season.”

On the offensive changes after Game 3:

“We had to change (the offense), because every possession was a grind those first three games, especially down the stretch. And so we had to find more ways to put our guys in their strengths while getting to it quickly, while still having options. I’m not a guy that likes to call every play. I want our guys to be able to read where the advantage is quickly throughout the course of the action. And Atlanta forced us to find a way to do that and feel pretty good about where we’re at right now.”

On OG Anunoby’s Game 6:

“OG was phenomenal. He played 27 minutes, had 29 points on 14 field-goal attempts and rebounded his behind off.”

On Mikal Bridges’ Game 6:

“It was great. He just did what he’s capable of doing. Now, is he going to go 10-for-12 every night? No. But he was aggressive and took great shots. And it shouldn’t go unnoticed that his defense was phenomenal. … A big night on both ends of the floor by Mikal.”

On the team connectedness and clicking at the exact best time:

“Our guys, their connectedness right now is off the charts. When you lock into the detail and you’re connected like that, with a group that’s as talented and versatile as that group, you got a chance to do that.”

On the midseason and series adjustments:

“We changed the way we played offensively and defensively about halfway through the season and we changed again after Game 3. [The Hawks] forced us to put our thinking caps on and forced us to play different. Find ways to make the game easier while putting [the players] in their strengths, while trying not to hinder them. We changed what we done offensively, but again that’s because we were pushed to do it. We feel pretty good about what we fell into.”

On the Robinson-Daniels scuffle:

“I haven’t seen the film, and it’s tough because when you’re up that big, stuff happens. And it’s hard. If somebody feels like something that shouldn’t happen happens, it’s hard to keep your composure in that moment. But at the end of the day, that’s what we talked about, and our guys did a good job of that the rest of the game.”

Josh Hart

On playing through injury:

“I’m always questionable depending on how my body feels. It was the back kind of locked up and then it went down to my hip, so that kind of happened the first quarter [of Game 5]. And then I tried to play through it the second quarter, and then at halftime it got a little tighter. I couldn’t really move too much.”

On guarding CJ McCollum:

“I think I had good physicality. I was able to force him into some tough shots. I was just trying to make life hard for him. Obviously, that’s a guy that’s got a lot of buckets in this league. That was something I thought, after Game 1 and Game 2 he kind of went off and kind of took over the game, that’s the matchup that I wanted going into Game 3 and after. I’ve had some conversations with the coaches about not taking me off him and those kinds of things.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 6:

“I thought KAT was amazing. To start the game blitzing, protecting the rim, he had some big blocks, his energy was huge for us. I just think the physicality, the attention to detail, focus on the gameplan, I think all those are at a very high level.”

On setting the tone in Game 6:

“It was huge for us because, like I said, we feel like we gave two games away. We wanted to come out with a great attention to detail and focus from the jump. I feel like our starts have been pretty good this series, and we wanted to set a tone from the beginning.”

On the blowout win:

“That’s something where it shows what we can do. And now we gotta continue to build off of it. Now we can’t sit there and not do it because we know we have what it takes to do it. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have.”

On the meaning of the Game 6 blowout heading into the second round:

“I don’t think it boosts confidence. It just reinforced the kind of team that we have, the players that we have, the coaches that we have. It was huge for us just because we feel like we gave two games away and we wanted to come out here with a great attention to detail, great focus from the jump. I feel like our starts to the game have been pretty good this series. That’s something that we wanted to set the tone with from the beginning.”

OG Anunoby

On his Game 6 performance:

“I don’t know. I work very hard. We have a great team and the team has been finding me and I’m playing with force or whatever.”

On the Knicks’ start to Game 6:

“We just came out with intensity. We were ready to play from the very jump … We know what we’re capable of. We know we’re a great team. We just need to continue to do it.”

On the last time he was part of such a humongous blowout:

“I don’t know. Maybe high school or something.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Knicks fans in Atlanta:

“That just shows the love that our fans got. They support us around the world. In a playoff series to make us feel at home, in another team’s city, speaks volumes about our fanbase. They’re the best fans in the world.”

On the Knicks’ Game 6 performance:

“We knew we needed to be at our best tonight, and we came close to doing that tonight.”

On not having a preference between Boston and Philly:

“I don’t think it should matter who we play as long as the Knicks play our best version of ourselves. When we do that, we can win every night.”

On adjusting to a new role under Brown and sacrificing for the team:

“I never doubted my ability. I never doubted the work I put in. It’s just – you gotta adjust, you gotta adjust. Especially (with) a lot of new things being thrown at you, you’re being asked to do a lot more things – some things that (haven’t) consistently been asked of me in my career so. It’s one thing anyone who knows me, who’s followed my career, I’m willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for the team to win. And I think this year I’ve shown that again. Whatever the team needs me to do, the player the team needs me to be, I’ll step up to the plate, step up to the challenge.”

On answering the call offensively in Game 6:

“I just wanted to answer the call. You ask for the opportunities and they obliged and I got to repay that trust and that opportunity. I just want to impact winning. I got more opportunities to do that and I wanted to make sure not take advantage of the opportunity that I was given. I’m proud that I’ve been able to help us win.”

Jalen Brunson

On staying locked in:

“I think, most importantly, (a performance like this) shows us what we’re capable of defensively. That’s really important. We still have a long road to travel, so staying locked in and knowing what we’re capable of is really important.

“Feel good about it tonight. Tomorrow, we turn the page.”

On the team’s ceiling:

“It’s good to see what we’re capable of when we play like that.”

On the Game 6 defensive dominance:

“We were able to get stops, run in transition, get layups. It really came down to our defense. It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.”

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ first-round series:

“He’s played phenomenal. The way we’ve been able to trust each other, all of us obviously including him, it’s been great.”

On OG Anunoby:

“I think he’s one of a kind and getting to see OG, see his work ethic and see the person he is and what he’s just been able to do with his time as a Knick has been great. I’m so happy to have him and happy I don’t have to see him on that side of the ball. He just creates havoc and I think his game is growing. That’s what happens when you work hard and he’s been doing that day in and day out.”

Mikal Bridges

On OG Anunoby:

“He was just doing everything — scoring, defense, rebounding, making plays. He’s doing everything out there and that’s what we need. And I think he’s gonna continue to do that for us.”

On staying confidence amid endless criticism:

“I feel like I’m always confident. Just happy to go out there and get the win. Just doing whatever it takes to win. That’s pretty much it. Just go do it for those guys.”

Mitchell Robinson

On his mental state following the Game 6 ejection:

“Knew something was gonna happen. My mental just not the same. I’m just lost in the world at the moment. Trying so hard to be calm.”

Jose Alvarado

On the Game 6 summary:

“Belt to ass right there.”

It's been almost a month since the transfer portal opened in college basketball, and most — if not all — of the big names in the pool of available players have been locked up by new teams.

Several Power Five conference programs — like Louisville, Indiana, Texas and Tennessee — pushed all their chips and resources into the transfer portals to address notable glaring needs on their roster with the hope that their finds — perhaps ones that are seen as "under the radar" — are the missing pieces to go on a deep run in March Madness next season.

That doesn't mean teams are done looking to fill holes in their roster, nor does it mean the pool of talent is all dried up. Teams are still very much active.

Basketball transfer portal: Pickups from mid-majors who will make big impact

But with the dust starting to settle and teams starting to prepare for summer practices, it's gotten to the point of the transfer portal cycle where the review of teams' transfer classes picks up to see how well they did (or are doing), and where some of the best player fits are.

Here's a look at some of the best transfer pickups who ranked near or just outside of the top 50 rankings by Power Five conference programs:

Conferencestrackers: ACC | SEC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Big East