June 6, 2024 Best Bet Picks & Predictions For NBA Finals & MLB

The “gold games” are Kyrie Irving’s description of the NBA Finals, and he’ll be playing in the league’s championship series for a fourth time. 

We like Irving’s chances to make a major impact from the jump on Thursday. Here are our picks for today. 

NBA Finals Game 1

Dallas enters as the underdog to the Celtics in Game 1 and the series, but the Mavericks don’t do blowout defeats. And it’s even less likely on this stage. 

Only one laugher this postseason – Game 1 at Oklahoma City in the semifinals, 117-95 – could meet lopsided standards. At 6.5-point underdogs, the favorite might be getting too much love after a nearly two-week layoff. 

The players everyone expects to play to their All-NBA reputations on Thursday night are Jayson Tatum of the Celtics and Luka Doncic of the Mavericks. No doubt each defense is geared to use a long-developed game plan to slow these stars. 

That will thrust Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown into prominent featured roles. Irving’s big-game clutch gene is there – and more developed – and he thrives in environments where the crowd focuses on his every crossover. 

Mavericks +6.5 (+115, DraftKings) with Kyrie Irving over 30.5 points, assists and rebounds (+154, FanDuel)

Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Baltimore has won 10 of its past 13 games and sends left-hander Cade Povich to the mound at Rogers Centre in his major league debut.

Bats are alive for the birds, who won the first two games by a combined score of 17-3. They lost a 3-2 decision on Wednesday and take on lefty Yusei Kikuchi on Thursday afternoon in the first MLB game of the day. 

Kikuchi is 4-5 with a 5.17 ERA in his 13 lifetime appearances against the Orioles. 

Povich gets his first start after going 5-1 with a 3.18 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 21 walks in 56 2/3 innings with Norfolk.

Orioles money line +100 (FanDuel)

Padres vs Giants

Ketel Marte already bagged a two-HR night this week and leads San Diego with a hard-hit rate of over 51 percent. 

He’s not shy swinging on lefties with six longballs against southpaws this season. 

Youngster Kyle Harrison starts for the Giants and he’s allowing 1.33 home runs per nine. 

Ketel Marte HR (+340 at FanDuel)