The first round of the NBA Playoffs is reaching its zenith as three Game 6s will be played Thursday night. The Knicks and Hawks will kick things off in Atlanta, followed by the Celtics at 76ers, and then the Nuggets at Timberwolves. Below, we will dish out a betting preview for each game.
New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks
Start time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Series score: Knicks lead 3-2
The Knicks have looked like an entirely different team these past two games than the squad we saw in the first three games of this first round series against the Hawks. New York beat the Hawks by scores of 114-98 (Game 3), and 126-97 (Game 4) and now hold all of the series momentum.
For Game 6, Hawks are +2 home underdogs at Fanatics Sportsbook. The game has an Over/Under of 214.0.
The Knicks are 3-2 against the spread so far in this series, while Atlanta is 2-3. Two games in the series thus far have gone Over the total, while three have gone Under.
Jalen Brunson has a points O/U of 27.5 for Game 6. CJ McCollum has a points O/U of 19.5.
Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
Start time/TV: 8 p.m., NBCSN/Peacock
Series score: Celtics lead 3-2
The Celtics continue to lack a killer instinct in the playoffs as they coughed up a close-out game Tuesday night. Now, they will have to win a third game in Philly in this series in order to avoid a Game 7.
Boston held a 13-point lead early in the third quarter of Game 5, but had an abysmal shooting performance late in the contest to allow the Sixers to run away with a 113-97 win at TD Garden.
Joe Mazzulla’s C’s are -5.5 road favorites for Thursday night in Philly. The game has an O/U of 213.0.
The Sixers are 3-2 against the spread so far in this series while Boston is 2-3.
The Over has hit just once so far in the series, with the Under hitting four times.
Joel Embiid has a points O/U of 28.5 for Game 6. Jaylen Brown has a points O/U of 25.5.
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Start time/TV: 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Series score: Timberwolves lead 3-2
The Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards (knee hyperextension) for the remainder of this series. They will also be without Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) for the rest of this postseason, and possibly all of next season.
Denver took full advantage of Minnesota’s injuries in Game 5, as the Nuggets posted a series-high 125 points in a 125-113 win. Nikola Jokic finally found some rhythm in the series shooting the ball as he was an efficient 9-of-15 from the floor.
The Nuggets are -5.5 road favorites for Game 6. The total for the game is 225.5 at Fanatics Sportsbook.
Minnesota is 3-2 against the spread so far this series while Denver is 2-3 ATS. The Over has hit just once in the series thus far.
Of note, the Nuggets played in the most games that went Over the total during the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
Jokic’s points Over/Under at Fanatics for Game 6 is 29.5. Julius Randle’s is 21.5.
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