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
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
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
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
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