Game 4 of this series was obviously a total embarrassment for the City Of Brotherly Love, with the Knicks fans taking over this arena for Game 4 and running the Sixers fans out and yelling profanities at Joel Embiid. Philly is a tough town, and with the season on life support again, they'll buck up at home this time. This always seemed destined for 7 games to me, everyone at the NBA league office would surely enjoy that, and there is very little separating these two squads, clearly. Things have definitely gotten personal in this series and the best player on the court - Embiid - can exact some sweet revenge here. I project Maxey to out-score Brunson back at home.

This has been a decidedly over series dating back to their first regular season meeting, and especially when the Pacers are at home, where they can control the tempo more, feed off the crowd, and where they shoot much better from the outside. Only got off 85 shots in Game 5; I project 105+ attempts in this one and return to Pacers scoring 121+ for game. Bucks still lacking key defensive pieces. They've played 10 times and 8 are 233+. The games in IND: 239, 239, 272, 250.

Still not buying Mitchell Parker. Maybe we will be wrong again but his ERA belies a lot of issues. He can't break 92, his lacks a true offpseed pitch and he gets no swing and miss. He catches a lot of barrels (33rd %) and is bottom 36% in hard hit rate and some of these Rangers bats will break out. Eovaldi can shove for the Rangers and is 7-3 career at Globe Life Park with a 3.22 ERA and 1.086 WHIP

As I write this the Mets are 6 outs from losing for the 7th time in the last 10 games and on the cusp of being shutout for a second time in that span. Through their last 9 and 7/9th innings they have scored all of 26 runs. They are also running out their worst starter, knowing they will be lucky to get 12 outs from him. Adrian Houser has allowed 14 ER in his last 2 outings (8 1/3 IP). The kid on the mound for the Cubbies has been plenty serviceable. Cubs playing sound ball lately

Luka is looking a little banged up and not quite himself and exerting a lot of effort defensively. Including on trying to slow down Harden. Kyrie was a slow starter in this series but we thought he'd go way over 30 in the last game, and with Gafford banged up, too, he has to carry a heavy scoring load in what might be a seven-game series now. Expect him to be assertive from range and getting to the rim; if they can get Zubac in foul trouble while Kawhi is out, a lot of offensive possibilities will open up for Dallas. I was wrong in this series; Mavs are in trouble and need their stars to shine very bright here.

The D-Backs switching from Zac Gallen to Jordan Montgomery here is interesting with Gallen's hammy a little tight and Monty only a few outings back after a loooong free agency (thanks Boras!). Will Smith is 2/4 vs this lefty starter and his slashline vs lefties this season: .457/.524/.714. Yikes. The forgotten man in the Dodgers loaded lineup is have a nice season again at the plate, batting .362. Has a 5-game hitting streak with 11 total hits in that span. Recently had back-to-back four hit games.

If you take out the horrible inning in Korea, the Dodgers starter has been pretty damn good. Could be more efficient but his stuff is nasty and the Snakes haven't hit the ball like I thought they would and I like some of these righty Dodgers bats against Jordan Montgomery - a high-end starter who is still trying to make up for all the lost time as a free agent during spring training

The Stros have had all kinds of issues at the plate, but their leadoff guy is hitting .345 for the season and he's looking pretty locked in right now and he's 6/18 vs the Guardians starter, who got a late start to the season and can be very pitch-inefficient and might have a rough task tonight. Altuve is over this in 4 of the last 6 games and we know he can be a doubles machine.