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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

NBA best bets: Game 6 expert picks, predictions for Friday 5/3

Originally posted on Action Network | Last updated 5/3/24

Grab your popcorn, your friends, and your best bets! It's Friday and the Association has a doubleheader of Game 6's for us to dive in to. The Cavaliers (who take a 3-2 series lead) aim to close the deal to punch their ticket to the next round, but it won't be an easy feat as tonight's game takes place on the Magic's home floor with tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

To follow, the Mavericks have home court advantage and the series leaning in their favor as they set the same mission against the Clippers at 9:30 p.m. ET. But, will chaos ensue and one (or possibly both) of these series get pushed to a pivotal Game 7?

The NBA fan in us can only wish while we wait and see what transpires tonight. As we count down the hours, minutes, and seconds until the games get underway, we get you prepped with our NBA best bets tonight, including Game 6 expert picks, player props and predictions. Check them out below!

Clippers vs. Mavericks

Friday, May 3, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Mavs 2H -3.5 (Caesars)

By Bryan Fonseca

I don't feel the need fade the team I picked to win the series while they're up 3-2 going home.

Moreover, I like Dallas in the second half especially.

The Mavs have won three of the five second halves in this series. In Game 1, they outscored the Clippers by 14 points. The Clippers won the next two second halves by one and two points, respectively, but Dallas has put the beats on them in the last 24 minutes of Games 4 and 5 by 12 and 20 points.

I think Dallas could cover the game, and generally I don't like betting second halves unless they're live, but the way Dallas has been closing, it's hard not to like them in this spot.

Pick: Mavs 2H -3.5

Cavaliers vs. Magic

Friday, May 3, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Under 199 (FanDuel)

By Andrew O'Connor-Watts

The Cavaliers haven't been able to get anything going offensively. In their best offensive performance they put up a 106.3 Offensive Rating–nearly two points worse than the Portland Trail Blazers this season. The Magic defense has been elite all season and it's even better at home. They've had the second best home defense in the league (107.7) behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cavs defense has also traveled well. They boast the second best road defense in the league this season (111.2).

Last game went over thanks in part to a monster game from Paolo Banchero who netted 39 points on 24 field goal attempts–something he's done only once before. He's scored 35+ points six times, but only one time has he done it in fewer than 25 field goal attempts. In the one instance, he shot 15 of 20 on six of 10 from 3, meaning he shot nine of 10 from 2-point range–an outlier to say the least.

This total has already moved down from its open and I don't think we see it get much lower than what it is now, so you might as well wait until closer to tipoff and hope to get a better number with some late over steam.