2023 NBA playoffs - Odds, picks, betting tips for Thursday's Game 6s - ESPN

ESPN's fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data, featuring ESPN's proprietary Basketball Power Index (BPI) to help you make smart daily fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for Thursday, May 11, are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

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As the start of the conference finals approaches, it's become time for close-out games. With a win over the visiting, and favored, Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers can advance to the penultimate round for the first time since 2001. The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, are favored at home to stave off elimination against the Denver Nuggets. Competition is elevated in such scenarios.

One player who stands out in regard to DFS projections is Jamal Murray of the Nuggets, as he's capable of consuming a 30% usage rate and is even a nice option for passing props. His assist prop sits at 6.5 on most platforms, a mark he has surpassed in three of five games against the Suns in this series. It's notable that Murray has produced 12.1 potential assists this postseason, second on his team only to Nikola Jokic's 14.5. When it comes to ceiling plays in this contest, it's hard to fade Kevin Durant and Devin Booker with their backs against the wall.

It's not often you'd consider the current MVP a value in lineups, but that's the case with Joel Embiid in this pivotal home spot. The league's leading scorer claims the second-highest projected fantasy floor in my model this evening, and yet comes in nearly at $2,000 less than Jokic in DFS terms on DraftKings. The