The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves hold 3-2 leads in their first-round series and aim to advance on Thursday. The Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets face elimination in Game 6 matchups. Odds favor the leaders across the board according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
NBA playoff action intensifies Thursday with three pivotal Game 6s in the first round. The Knicks visit the Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET, seeking a series-clinching win after a 126-97 victory in Game 5 that gave them a 3-2 edge. New York is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 213.5-214.5 points, while Josh Hart is questionable with a back issue for the Knicks. The Hawks hold a strong 25-18 home record including playoffs, as noted in previews from CBS Sports and SportsLine reports citing FanDuel odds. Atlanta previously led 2-1 before New York's recent double-digit triumphs pushed them to the brink, according to CBS Sports coverage of the slate. The total has hit Over in recent head-to-heads, with models projecting high scoring from Jalen Brunson and Jalen Johnson. Boston heads to Philadelphia's Xfinity Mobile Arena for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off against the 76ers, who staved off elimination with a 119-97 Game 5 rout despite 10.5-point underdog status. The Celtics lead 3-2 and are 6.5-point favorites on the moneyline at -246, with a total of 212.5 points. Philadelphia's Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey powered the comeback, while Boston boasts a superior 28-15 road mark versus Philly's 23-20 home record. SportsLine's model, which simulates games 10,000 times, leans Over and eyes big outputs from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard, averaging 15 points per game in the series. The Nuggets travel to Minneapolis' Target Center for a 9:30 p.m. ET clash with the Timberwolves after a 125-113 Game 5 win featuring Nikola Jokic's triple-double of 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds. Denver is a 6.5-point favorite with a 224.5-point total, aiming to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1. Minnesota misses Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), who will not return, though Julius Randle scored 27 in the loss. Jamal Murray added 24 points for Denver, which last overcame a 3-1 deficit twice in 2020. Models project Rudy Gobert over 10.5 rebounds in a potential bounce-back. These elimination games cap a tense Eastern and Western Conference slate, with SportsLine noting strong trends like the Under hitting four of five Celtics-76ers contests despite a low total.
