The NBA postseason of 2024 is in full swing, with the basketball betting market seeing an unprecedented level of interest. CBS Sports is providing daily picks to keep fans updated on the latest developments in the series, with Sam Quinn making at least one prediction for every game leading up to the NBA Finals. So far, the home team has won all five games played, with significant margins of victory.
The Orlando Magic have been performing exceptionally well at home, shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range compared to just 25.2% in Cleveland. With a young roster that is still learning from their first or second playoff runs, it is no surprise that they are more comfortable playing in front of their own fans. The pick for Game 6 is for the Magic to win by four points.
There has been some speculation that Russell Westbrook may see a reduced role or even be out of the rotation for Game 6, as he has been struggling with his shooting recently. However, if Westbrook does play, he will likely get more minutes and provide energy and athleticism to his teammates. The Mavericks have not been guarding Westbrook or Terance Mann effectively so far in this series, allowing Mann several wide-open 3-point attempts. If Mann plays again in Game 6, he will be expected to make over 1.5 three-pointers and continue to provide energy and athleticism to his teammates.
Overall, it looks like the Magic are poised for another victory against the Mavericks in Game 6, thanks in part to their exceptional performance at home and their talented young roster.
