Two Winning Wagers For Friday's NBA Playoff Games: Magic-Cavs, Clippers-Mavs

My four-day winning streak betting on the 2024 NBA Playoffs got snapped when I split my two bets Thursday. The Milwaukee Bucks got dismantled by the Indiana Pacers 120-98 in a series-ending Game 6 loss. However, the New York Knicks saved my night with a 118-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Unfortunately, there are just two games in the NBA again Friday. The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers have their backs against the wall. Orlando and Los Angeles try to stave off elimination Friday when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks. That said, let's discuss my bets for both games. 

Best Bets For Friday, May 3rd in the 2024 NBA Playoffs

The odds chosen are the best available at the time of writing.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic (-3.5), 7 p.m. ET

I'll go back to what I said when I successfully bet the Magic +5 in their 104-103 Game 5 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers: "I don't trust a team led by Cavaliers All-Star SG Donovan Mitchell". He will probably force his way out of Cleveland this summer as he did with the Utah Jazz in 2022. 

Furthermore, Mitchell is being outplayed in this series by Magic All-Star PF Paolo Banchero and SF Franz Wagner. Mitchell has a -11 net rating and is shooting just 22.9% from deep. Paolo is out-scoring Mitchell 24.8-22.4 points per game (PPG) in this series. Wagner adds 20.0 PPG while leading Orlando in assists (4.6) and rebounds (7.4). 

Orlando Magic PF Paolo Banchero shoots a fadeaway over Cleveland Cavaliers SG Max Strus in Game 3 of the 1st round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center in Florida. (Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports)

Also, Cavaliers C Jarrett Allen has been Cleveland's best player in this series but is dealing with an injury to his ribs. Allen has a team-best +38 net rating, grabbing a series-high 13.0 rebounds per game and chipping in 17.0 PPG. The injury to his ribs forced Allen to miss Game 5 and he is "questionable" for Friday. 

Orlando plays much better at home. The Magic's scoring differential increased to +7.6 PPG at home from -3.6 PPG on the road during the regular season. They waxed the Cavs by 38 and 23 points in Orlando in Games 3-4. Finally, the Magic are beating the Cavaliers in all "four factors" in this series. 

BET 1.14u on Orlando -3.5 (-114) at FanDuel. The Magic are playable up to -5. 

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Los Angeles Clippers (+8.5) at Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. ET

The Mavs handed the Clippers their worst playoff loss in franchise history in Game 5. Dallas went into Los Angeles and drop-kicked the Clippers 123-93 Wednesday. But, I'm going back to the well with LAC in Game 6 for the same reason I backed them in Game 4 when they upset the Mavericks 116-111 in Dallas. 

That reason is the Mavs aren't eight points better than the Clippers even without All-Star Kawhi Leonard. James Harden and Paul George can pick up the slack for playmaking and scoring in Kawhi's absence. Clippers backup microwave scorer Norman Powell is one of the best bench players in the NBA. He'll get more playing time with Leonard out. 

Los Angeles Clippers SG Terance Mann, SF Paul George and SG Norman Powell celebrate a bucket vs. the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center in Texas. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

With this in mind, LAC has more contributors while it's tough for the Mavericks to overcome a bad game by either Luka Dončić or Kyrie Irving. Granted, that might not happen in Game 6, but, if it does, Dallas is screwed. Luka is averaging 30.2 PPG, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. Kyrie is scoring 25.8 PPG on 50.0% shooting and 42.5% from 3-point land. 

Lastly, Clippers-Mavericks Game 6 gives me similar vibes to the Knicks-76ers series. The Knicks couldn't close out the Sixers at home in Game 5 but eliminated them in Game 6 in Philadelphia Thursday. Perhaps the pressure of winning this series at home is too much for the Mavs and there is a Game 7 in Los Angeles this weekend. 

BET 1.05u on the Clippers +8.5 (-105) at Caesars. Los Angeles is bet-able down to +6.5. 

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Follow me on X (or Twitter, whatever) @Geoffery-Clark and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants. I'll add bets to my NBA 2023-24 betting record via X all season.