David Lawrence
Videos by OutKick
There are so many player props that it can be overwhelming. How are you supposed to know exactly how many rebounds, points, or 3s a player is going to make? This is why I’m here, to do all of that research so you have a better idea of where to put your money. We went 4-1 for our Friday’s picks largely thanks to Playoff P not showing up. That bring my player props record to 7-5 with a couple of nice +100 and +152 sprinkled in there.
Bucks vs. Nets 7:40 p.m. ET
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 34.5 Points -118
The Bucks lost game one to the Nets, and it wasn’t because of Giannis not showing up. Giannis finished the game with 34 points. Giannis averaged 28.1 points during the regular season compared to this year’s playoffs; he has averaged 25.6 points, and in the 19-20 season, he averaged 26.7 points. In-game one, Giannis shot 16-24 from the field and still didn’t go over 34 points. He would need a better game to get over that 34 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 5.5 Assists -115
In-game one, he only had 4 assists. Other than Giannis, there was no other player on the Bucks to score more than 20 points. I don’t see this happening again, and Giannis is a great playmaker that will get players involved. During the regular season, he averaged 5.9 assists, and during this year’s playoffs, he averaged 7 assists, and in the 19-20 season, he averaged 5.7. As long as his teammates can hit open shots, Giannis will get assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 18.5 Rebounds + Assists +102
I’ve already written about why Giannis will get over 5.5 assists. If that happens, his rebounds and assists should hit since he averaged 11 rebounds during the regular season, and last year he averaged 13.6 rebounds. This year during the playoffs, he has averaged 14.2 rebounds and 7 assists, a total of 21.2. In 19-20 playoffs, he averaged 13.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists for a total of 16.5. Giannis feasts the offensive rebounds and is always in the right area for defensive rebounds. This bet at plus money is a great pick.
Khris Middleton Over 23.5 Points -104
Last game Middleton was horrible. He only scored 13 points and shot 6-23 from the field. This isn’t what Middleton normally does. In the regular season, he averaged 20.4 points and shot 47.6% from the field. During the playoffs, he has stayed consistent with his averages, where he averaged 19.8 points these playoffs, and last year’s playoffs, he averaged 20.3 points. If what I believe happens tonight and the Bucks tie up the series, Middleton scoring will be a huge reason for this.
Kyrie Irving Under 29.5 Points -122
Kyrie is a chucker by nature, and the last game was a good chucking game. He scored 25 points on 11-26. During the regular season, he averaged 26.9 points, and that was with Harden playing and taking some of the pressure off. This year, he averaged 24.8 points in the playoffs, and in the 18-19 playoffs, he averaged 21.3 points. The 18-19 season was his last year with the Celtics, and if you remember, he played horribly against the Bucks. I believe this will be a bad chucking game from Kyrie.
Brook Lopez Over 1.5 +400 and Over 2.5 +1280 Made Threes
You throw a little bit on these two bets and hope you hit some bets that have great odds. In-game one, he didn’t score one three and went 0-1 from beyond the arc. This isn’t what Brook Lopez is known for. In the regular season, he averaged 1.4 made threes on 4 attempts. In 19-20 season averaged 1.5 made on 4.8 attempts, and in 18-19, 2.3 made on 6.3 attempts. This year’s playoffs is his worst performance from deep. He has only made 0.2 threes on 1.8 attempts. Compared to the 19-20 playoff season, 2.1 made on 5.3 attempts, 18-19 playoff season, 1.5 made on 5 attempts. I’m banking that Brook will extend the floor against Brooklyn and hit open threes that Giannis creates.
Nuggets vs. Suns 10:10 p.m. ET
Devin Booker Over 29.5 Points -118
Booker is the best player on the Suns and has shown that he is one of the brightest young superstars. Booker played great in his first playoff series as the Suns eliminated the Lakers in the first round. During this year’s regular season, he averaged 25.6 points, and last year he averaged 26.6 points. In his first playoff series, Booker averaged 29.7 points, and in in-game one against the Lakers, Booker had 34 points. I see the Suns and Booker kicking in the Nuggets door tonight, and that will because of Devin Booker.
Deandre Ayton Over 14.5 Points -110
Ayton will always be compared to Luka because the Suns took Ayton over Luka in the 18-19 draft. Regardless of those comparisons, Ayton has shown that he is a great player. During the regular season, he averaged 14.4 points, and in his first playoff series, he averaged 15.8 points. In-game one versus the Lakers, Ayton had an impressive game scoring 21 points. Going against the Nuggets is going to be a lot different than going against the Lakers. Even though Anthony Davis was hurt in the last couple of games, Davis plays great defense compared to Jokic, a subpar defender.
Chris Paul Over 8.5 Assists -108
I already wrote how Ayton and Booker will score over their projected points, and who will be feeding them the ball? Chris Paul, who finally looks healthy again. In-game one versus the Lakers, even though he got hurt, he still finished the game with 8 assists. During the regular season, he averaged 8.9 assists, and during these playoffs, he is averaging 7.7 assists.
