In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter…

There were plenty of predictions to go around yesterday across the NBA, NHL, and MLB, with our model focusing in on one of those predictions and making it a 3-star Play. That prediction went 1-0 overall, and you can see how each of the models performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 2-0

Over/Under Predictions: 2-0

Spread Predictions: 2-0

3-star Predictions: 1-0

Money Line Predictions: 1-1

Over/Under Predictions: 2-0

Puck Line Predictions: 1-1

3-star Predictions: 0-1

Money Line Predictions: 6-5

Over/Under Predictions: 7-4

Run Line Predictions: 5-4

3-star Predictions: 10-1

Another day with two NBA games is scheduled to take place on this fine Thursday. The Philadelphia 76ers will return to South Philly to take on the Boston Celtics in Game 6, where a win will put the 76ers back in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 22 years. The Phoenix Suns will also return home to take on the Nuggets as Phoenix looks to keep its season alive.

Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers

Model Predicts- Celtics ML, OVER 212.5, 76ers +2.5

The Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers continues on Thursday night in South Philly.

Boston took control of the series in Philadelphia, winning Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. The Celtics nearly won Game 4, which would have put Boston up 3-1, but all of a sudden the script has flipped and the 76ers own a 3-2 lead and have a chance to close things out at home in Game 6.

Philadelphia couldn't seem to figure Boston out during the regular season, going 1-3 in the season series. However, it appears Joel Embiid and crew have enough talent to finally break through to the Eastern Conference Finals. Will we see that happen in this matchup, or will Boston even the series at three games apiece before heading home for Game 7? Let's look at the matchup and make a betting pick for Game 6 of the Celtics vs 76ers series.

Boston Celtics

Just a few days ago it appeared that everything was going right for Boston. The series was tied at 2-2, but the Celtics' losses came by a combined five points and the offense was getting anything it wanted.

This series started back on May 1st, with Game 4 taking place on May 7th. During that time Boston posted a 123.7 Offensive Rating, 7.1 points higher than the next closest team and 11.5 points higher than Philadelphia.

The key to such a high rating was Boston's ability to score from all levels, shooting a smooth 38.0% from behind the arc and scoring an average of 44.0 points in the paint in Games 1 through 4. Boston's bench also managed to outscore Philadelphia's 124-84 in that time, giving them a massive depth advantage.

However, those advantages went out the window in Game 5. Boston shot just 32% from three in that matchup, 8% worse than Philadelphia. Boston's bench did have a positive point differential, but that was largely from minutes that were played in the late stages of the game. The Celtics' main bench players in Game 5, Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams, combined for just 11 points.

The Boston we got in Game 5 is not the team we are used to seeing, but it is tough to tell which version we will get with their backs against the wall on the road.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have given themselves the chance to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001. Coincidentally, that was the last time a 76ers player was the MVP, with Allen Iverson winning the award then and Joel Embiid being crowned MVP this season.

However, even though Philadelphia owns the series lead it is by no means in the clear, especially since its stars have come and gone multiple times already in this series.

James Harden erupted for 45 points in Game 1 before disappearing entirely in Games 2 and 3, shooting 17.9% overall and 15.4% from behind the arc across those two matchups, per NBA.com. He then bounced back with a 42-point performance in Game 4 and a near triple-double in Game 5, but it has been tough to predict which version of the former MVP we are going to get.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia's third leading scorer during the regular season, followed a similar path. Maxey scored 26 points in Game 1 and 30 in Game 5, but in between failed to surpass 14 points and shot 34% from the floor overall.

Luckily the MVP has held things down on the offensive end after a poor performance in Game 2. Over the last three games Embiid is averaging 32.3 points per game while giving himself a ton of chances at the charity stripe (12.7 attempts per game). That will need to continue in order for Philadelphia to advance.

What’s the Play?

The key for Boston and Philadelphia is going to be the three-pointer. We've seen both teams struggle offensively when the three-ball isn't dropping, but one of these teams continues to trend in the wrong direction in that regard.

Boston shot 37.7% from three in Games 1 through 3, but that percentage has since dropped to 35.4% across Games 4 and 5. The opposite is true for the 76ers, shooting 37.1% from behind the arc in the first three games and 39.1% in the last two.

Fatigue may also play a slight factor here. Boston has played 11 postseason games, tied with Golden State for the most in these playoffs, while Philadelphia has played nine. Philly also had eight days of rest in between Rounds 1 and 2 while Boston only had three.

We think the three-point shooting trends will be a much larger factor than any fatigue, but both will play a role as this series comes to a close. As a result, we like Philadelphia to cover the spread here.

3-star play: 76ers +2.5 (-110)

Money Line Trends

• Boston Celtics- 6-5 overall in postseason, 3-2 as the away team

• Philadelphia 76ers- 7-2 overall in postseason, 3-1 as the home team

• Denver Nuggets- 7-3 overall in postseason, 1-3 as the away team

• Phoenix Suns- 6-4 overall in postseason, 4-1 as the home team

Over/Under Trends

• Boston Celtics- Over is 8-3 in postseason, 5-0 as the away team with average total of 239.4

• Philadelphia 76ers- Over is 5-4 in postseason, 3-1 as the home team with average total of 212.25

• Denver Nuggets- Over is 6-4 in postseason, 3-1 as the away team with average total of 235.25

• Phoenix Suns- Over is 6-3-1 in postseason, 4-1 as the home team with average total of 242.2

Spread Trends

• Boston Celtics- 6-5 against the spread (ATS) in postseason, 3-2 ATS as the away team

• Philadelphia 76ers- 6-2-1 ATS in postseason, 3-1 as the home team

• Denver Nuggets- 6-4 ATS in postseason, 1-3 ATS as the away team

• Phoenix Suns- 4-6 ATS in postseason, 3-2 as the home team

Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers

• Boston Celtics

  • Danilo Gallinari (OUT)

• Philadelphia 76ers

  • Joel Embiid (Game Time Decision)

Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns

• Denver Nuggets

  • Collin Gillespie (OUT)

• Phoenix Suns

  • Chris Paul (OUT), Deandre Ayton (Game Time Decision)

🏙 Knicks force a Game 6. The New York Knicks finally figured out how to score the basketball, pouring in 112 points in a nine-point victory over the Heat in Madison Square Garden. Offense has been a major problem in the postseason for New York, a big reason why they are still down 3-2 in the series. However, Jalen Brunson’s 38 points, RJ Barrett’s 26, and Julius Randle’s 24 helped set the tone and keep the season alive. Game 6 will be played in Miami on Friday.

🌉 Golden State keeps its season alive, wins by double digits in Game 6. The defending NBA champs have had a rough Round 2, but live to see another day after a 121-106 victory over the Lakers on Wednesday. Perhaps to no one’s surprise, Steph Curry led the way with 27 points, but Andrew Wiggins was likely the difference maker with his 25 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 55.6% shooting. Game 6 will take place on Friday in Los Angeles, the third elimination game of the postseason for the Warriors.

📋 Is JJ Redick going to be a head coach? From starting as a player, to being a broadcaster, and now a potential NBA head coach, JJ Redick is truly a man of many talents. Redick has reportedly interviewed for the Toronto Raptors head coach position, a spot that is vacant after Nick Nurse was fired following Toronto’s exit in the Play-In tournament. Nurse coached the Raptors to their first ever NBA title, and now Redick could potentially be the guy to take them back to the top.

🏀 Coach K joins the NBA. Coach K couldn’t stay away from basketball after retiring from Duke at the end of the 2021 season. Krzyzewski will now be a “special adviser” for the NBA, where his role will be to provide counsel to the league’s office, executives, and other leaders.

Two NHL games are scheduled to take place this evening. The Carolina Hurricanes will return home with a 3-1 series lead, looking to strung together another dominant performance against the New Jersey Devils and close out the series. The Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars are knotted up at 2-2, making tonight’s matchup a massive one for both squads.

There are no 3-star plays in the NHL today.

Money Line Trends

• New Jersey Devils- 5-6 overall in postseason, 2-3 as the away team

• Carolina Hurricanes- 7-3 overall in postseason, 4-1 as the home team

• Seattle Kraken- 6-5 overall in postseason, 4-2 as the away team

• Dallas Stars- 6-4 overall in postseason, 3-2 as the home team

Over/Under Trends

• New Jersey Devils- Over is 7-4 in postseason, 3-2 as the away team with average total of 5.40

• Carolina Hurricanes- Over is 7-3 in postseason, 4-0 in last four games with average total of 8.00

• Seattle Kraken- Over was 1-6 in Round 1, but 4-0 in Round 2

• Dallas Stars- Over is 6-4 in postseason, 4-0 in last four games with average total of 8.25

Puck Line Trends

• New Jersey Devils- Puck line is 5-6 overall in postseason, 2-3 as the away team

• Carolina Hurricanes- Puck line is 5-5 overall in postseason, 2-3 as the home team

• Seattle Kraken- Puck line is 7-4 in postseason, 4-2 as the away team

• Dallas Stars- Puck line is 6-4 in postseason, 3-2 as the home team

New Jersey Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes

• New Jersey Devils

  • Jonathan Bernier (OUT), Ryan Graves (Day-to-Day)

• Carolina Hurricanes

  • Antti Raanta (Day-to-Day), Teuvo Teravainen (OUT), Andrei Svechnikov (OUT)

Seattle Kraken @ Dallas Stars

• Seattle Kraken

  • Andre Burakovsky (OUT), Daniel Sprong (OUT),

• Dallas Stars

  • Jani Hakanpaa (Day-to-Day), Ty Dellandrea (Day-to-Day), Mason Marchment (Day-to-Day)

🍁Maple Leafs keep their season alive. The Toronto Maple Leafs finally broke the playoff curse and made it out of the first round, but Toronto has not had much luck in Round 2. Entering last night the Leafs were down 3-0 in the series to Florida and in danger of getting swept, but Toronto pulled through in a 2-1 victory. The most impressive part of the night was rookie Joseph Woll, Toronto’s third-string goalie, saving 24 of the 25 shots he faced in his playoff debut. It also helped that a ref assisted with one of Toronto’s two goals. Game 5 will be played in Toronto on Friday.

🏠 Edmonton leaves no doubts at home. After a 5-1 loss in Game 3, the Edmonton Oilers came out looking for revenge in Game 4. Edmonton scored three goals in the first period, which proved to be all it would need as Vegas only found the back of the net once. Four different players scored goals for Edmonton in the victory, and surprisingly none of them were Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Game 5 will be played on Friday in Vegas.

🏒 Flyers hire Keith Jones as President of Hockey Operations. It is being reported that Keith Jones will officially join the Flyers organization as the President of Hockey Operations on Thursday morning. In an adjacent move Philadelphia will make Daniel Briere the full time GM, serving as the interim GM after Chuck Fletcher was fired earlier in the season. The hiring of Jones comes as a bit of surprise as he has no front-office experience, but he spent nine season in the NHL and has worked as analyst for NBC Sports and TNT.

🏆 Ted Lindsay Award finalists announced. Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, and Erik Karlsson were announced as the finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award. The Award is similar to the Hart Trophy as it is given to the “most outstanding player”, but it is voted on by the NHL Player’s Association instead of the Writer’s Association. Pastrnak and Karlsson and first-time finalists while McDavid has won the award three time in his career, most recently in 2021.

Not much is happening today in the MLB. Only six games are scheduled as many teams closed out a series yesterday, and due to some gaps in the early season data our model has prediction for five of today’s matchups.

There are no 3-star plays in the MLB today.

Money Line Trends

• Tampa Bay Rays- 29-9 overall this season, 10-6 as the away team, 8-5 against division opponents (Play AL East rival New York Yankees today)

Over/Under Trends

• Kansas City Royals- Over is 19-17-2 overall, 12-9-1 as the home team

• New York Yankees- Under is 22-15-1 overall, 15-7 as the home team

Run Line Trends

• Cincinnati Reds- Run line is 21-15 overall, 12-8 as the home team, 7-5 as a home underdog

Various injuries around the league. See full injury report on MLB.com

🎉 Kenley Jansen makes history against Atlanta. Red Sox reliever Kenley Jansen earned his 400th career save last night, the seventh player in MLB history to do so. Wednesday’s save was Jansen’s ninth of the season, the third most in the MLB this season behind Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase and San Diego’s Josh Hader. Boston has now won nine of its last 11 games and sits in third place in the AL East with a 22-16 record.

🥊 Justin Verlander has officially beaten every MLB team. The Mets have not played great baseball this year, but Verlander back on the mound New York has a chance to turn things around. Verlander allowed just two hits in seven innings in a 2-1 victory over the Reds yesterday, becoming the 21st pitcher in MLB history to beat every team at least once.

😯 Marlins set to call up 20-year-old pitcher. The Miami Marlins announced that they will call up top pitching prospect Eury Perez to the majors. Perez is set to make his first MLB start on Friday against Cincinnati, becoming the youngest starting pitcher in Marlins history. Through six starts in the minors Perez owns a 2.32 ERA and 0.81 WHIP.

🗓 The NFL regular season schedule is set. The NFL announced its schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season, with several international gaps set to take place. Three games will occur in London, England while two more will be in Frankfurt, Germany, with the Jacksonville Jaguars becoming the first team to play back-to-back international games in Weeks 4 and 5.

💰 Shaq Mason signs extension with the Texans. The Hosuton Texans acquired offensive lineman Shaq Mason in a trade in March, and he must be making a good impression already. It is being reported that Mason and the Texans have come to terms on a 3-year, $36 million extension that would make him the fifth-highest-paid right guard in the NFL. The move comes after Houston drafted Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the second overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, providing the potential franchise cornerstone with protection.

✍️ Saints sign Foster Moreau to three-year deal. The New Orleans Saints signed former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau to a 3-year, $12 million deal on Wednesday. The news comes after Moreau announced that he would be stepping away from football after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but Moreau has already been cleared to play and expects to be on the field Week 1. Moreau tallied 1,107 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons with the Raiders.

😬 West Virginia suspends Bob Huggins. West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins finds himself in the midst of some controversy. Huggins was doing a live radio interview when he said a homophobic slur, resulting in a three-game suspension and a $1 million pay cut. Huggins has been the head coach for the Mountaineers for the last 16 seasons, but was informed that he is on thin ice.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

1. At first glance a basketball hoop looks rather small, but it is actually possible to fit more than one basketball in the hoop at once. What is the diameter (in inches) of a basketball hoop?

2. Just like the Olympics, the World Cup comes around just once every four years, bringing together the World’s best national teams for the opportunity to win the world title. There have been 22 World Cups in its rich history, but only one country has ever appeared in all 22. What country is it?

3. The Atlanta Falcons have been an NFL franchise for a long time, officially established in 1966. We’ve seen the Falcons make the playoffs, and even compete in two Super Bowls, since then, but the success did not come easy in the early stages of the franchise. How long did it take for the Falcons to win their first playoff game?

4. Legendary baseball player Reggie Jackson is considered by many to be one of the more clutch hitters to step in the box. His performances in the playoffs were something the behold, especially his three home run performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. What was the nickname given to Jackson because of how clutch he was in the playoffs?

Anyone know what has happened on May 11th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but that’s likely because it was never too busy of a day.

On May 11th…

1963- Sandy Koufax throws his second career no-hitter in a 8-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. Koufax would strikeout just four batters and walk two as he was nearly perfect ,relying on some soft contact to get the job done. He would go on to pitch four no-hitters in his career, one of which was a perfect game, the second most in MLB history behind Nolan Ryan’s seven.

1980- Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies steals second, third, and home in the same inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Rose would be the first player in nearly 52 years to accomplish the feat, doing so in a 7-3 win over his former team. The Phillies would go on to win the World Series later that season, led by Rose and Mike Schmidt.

1989- NFL quarterback Cam Newton is born in Atlanta, Georgia. Newton was a college football star at Auburn, where he won a Heisman Trophy, before being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. That talent and stardom would carry over into the NFL, where Newton was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, one-time MVP, and Super Bowl runner up. Unfortunately injuries derailed his career, which is why he is not currently on an NFL roster.

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1. 18

2. Brazil

3. 12 years

4. Mr. October