Denver Advances To Western Conference Finals

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 Knicks Vs. Heat Game 6

The second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs is coming down to the wire, and every game can determine the fate of a series. Some franchises are just a win away from getting to the conference finals, so the next game should be crucial. With the Miami Heat set to host the New York Knicks on Friday. Miami went 44-38 in the regular season, earning the No. 7 seed in the East in the process. This represented nine fewer wins compared to 2021-22. The Heat ended up officially clinching a postseason bid by defeating the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. The team is coming off an upset 4-1 series victory over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, who also had the best record in the league. On the other side, the Knicks finished the regular season with a 47-35 record. With the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, New York returned to the postseason after a one-year absence. In the first round, the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, marking the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2013. In the conference semifinals, the Heat stole Game 1 with a 108-101 victory. The Knicks bounced back with a 111-105 win with Jimmy Butler on the sidelines. Miami would then win back-to-back games in Florida to open a 3-1 lead. On Wednesday, New York avoided elimination with a 112-103 victory. Now back at the Kaseya Center, the Heat will have another chance to close out the series With all that in mind, here are three bold predictions for the Miami Heat for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the New York Knicks on Friday.

Lakers Vs. Warriors Game 6

The Los Angeles Lakers failed to eliminate the Golden State Warriors in game five, but now they get a second chance at home in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals. The biggest question heading into this game has to be the health of Anthony Davis. Midway through the fourth quarter in game five, Davis was struck on the side of the head by Kevon Looney. He was brought back to the training room and did not return. If he is placed in concussion protocol, or just cannot go, that would be a huge blow to the Lakers’ chances to knock off the Warriors. LeBron James also looked hobbled towards the end of the game and his status needs to be watched as well. Regardless, the Lakers would love to finish out the series on Friday night instead of having to go back to San Francisco for game seven on Sunday. The Lakers did that in the first series against the grizzlies. After winning game one on the road, the Lakers won games three and four at home but failed to close out the series on the road in game five. They closed out the series in dominant fashion in game six at home and will be looking to do the same. LeBron James is a perfect 17-0 in series when his team has gotten a 3-1 lead in the series. James has not been at his peak in these playoffs, but if there is any gas in the tank it will be used in this one. Curry is an amazing player in his own right, but he has not been as clutch as LeBron in his career. The Warriors are 6-5 all-time in game seven, but since Curry and company took over, they are 3-2. One of the losses was to LeBron when he was a member of the Cavs. LeBron will not want to tempt fate and test Curry twice in game sevens. They take this one and move on.

Headlines 🚨

On this day in Sports History: Ernie Banks hits his 500^th home run.

Nuggets advance to Western Conference finals, focused on 'winning a championship'.

Lakers’ star big man Anthony Davis did not enter the concussion protocol and is expected to play in Game 6 against the Warriors tonight.

Rays’ Wander Franco left Thursdays game against the Yankees with tightness and spasms on the right side of his neck.

Marlins’ top prospect Eury Perez will become the youngest pitcher in franchise history Friday when he makes his major league debut against the Reds.

Tom Brady is in deep discussions to become a limited partner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre said Thursday that he is no longer suing former NFL player and national sports commentator Pat McAfee for defamation.

Jalen Carter was driving with a suspended license during the night of the Jan. 15 incident in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia that led to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, court documents show.

Former Nebraska and Texas QB Casey Thompson one of the top players in the NCAA transfer portal, told ESPN on Wednesday that he has committed to FAU.

The Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the NJ Devils in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference second-round series, winning 3-2 in overtime.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

 🏀 Knicks at Heat

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New York's last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of New York's last 10 games

• Miami is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

🏀 Warriors at Lakers

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers

• LA Lakers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• LA Lakers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

🏒 Panthers at Maple Leafs

• Florida is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

• Florida is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Florida

🏒 Oilers at Golden Knights

• Edmonton is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Vegas

• Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Vegas

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 5 games

• Vegas is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games

⚾️ Reds at Marlins

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 6 games when playing Miami

⚾️ Mariners at Tigers

• Seattle is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Detroit

• Seattle is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road

• Detroit is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games

• Detroit is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games 

⚾️ Rays at Yankees

• Tampa Bay is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games

• NY Yankees is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home

⚾️ Mets at Nationals

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Mets's last 7 games

• NY Mets is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Washington

• Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

• Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

⚾️ Braves at Blue Jays

• Atlanta is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 11 of Atlanta's last 14 games when playing on the road against Toronto

• Toronto is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

• Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

⚾️ Angels at Guardians

• LA Angels is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• LA Angels is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against LA Angels

• The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Cleveland's last 10 games

⚾️ Cardinals at Red Sox

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of St. Louis's last 8 games

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing Boston

• Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home

• Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

⚾️ Cubs at Twins

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games on the road

• Chi Cubs is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games

• Minnesota is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home

⚾️ Giants at Diamondbacks

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games on the road

• San Francisco is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Arizona

• Arizona is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games when playing San Francisco

• Arizona is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against San Francisco

⚾️ Rangers at Athletics

• Texas is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road

• Texas is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland's last 7 games when playing Texas

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏀 NBA

44% of bets and 70% of money is on GSW +2.5

5.14.23

21% of bets and 51% of money is on UNDER 203 PHI at BOS

🏒 NHL

41% of bets and 59% of money is on EDM -1.5 (+180)

⚾️ MLB

44% of bets and 76% of money is on UNDER 8 CIN at MIA

53% of bets and 78% of money is on NYY -1.5 (+122)

38% of bets and 79% of money is on OVER 9 NYM at WSH

37% of bets and 57% of money is on STL +100

51% of bets and 68% of money is on OVER 8.5 LAA at CLE

47% of bets and 74% of money is on COL +1.5 (-130)

30% of bets and 49% of money is on COL +120

56% of bets and 82% of money is on UNDER 11 PHI at COL

51% of bets and 84% of money is on OVER 10 SF at ARI

63% of bets and 84% of money is on LAD -1.5 (+150)

36% of bets and 57% of money is on OVER 9 SD at LAD

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

GSW (SF) Andrew Wiggins | Questionable - Left Costal Cartilage Fracture

GSW (F) Patrick Baldwin Jr | Questionable - Toe

LAL (SF) LeBron James | Probable - Foot

LAL (PF) Anthony Davis | Probable - Foot

LAL (C) Mo Bamba | Questionable - Ankle

MIA (SF) Jimmy Butler | Probable - Ankle

MIA (SF) Caleb Martin | Probable - Back

NYK (SG) Immanuel Quickley | Doubtful - Ankle

Weekend Picks 🔒

Warriors ML +125 | The Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their last eight games against the Lakers and won Game 5 despite more struggles from Klay Thompson (3-of-12 shooting) and Jordan Poole (5-of-14 shooting). These two should pick it up tonight and help the Warriors force a Game 7.

Panthers +145 | The Panthers have controlled this series and look to close out the series in the upcoming game. The Panthers should constantly find the back of the net with Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with great puck movement. The Panthers, who have only allowed eight goals in the series, should limit the Maple Leafs' offense.

UFC Xiaonan Yan +155 | Yan has improved her takedown defense, defensive grappling and sprawl and brawl style following her positional TKO loss to Espoza. Yan continues to have close fights with high-level opponents, and we like the plus money price here in what is expected to be a close fight.