Kick off your week with a quartet of Monday NBA Playoff player props. We’re discussing four picks, covering each team in tonight’s action. Monday’s playoff schedule features 76ers vs. Celtics and Suns vs. Nuggets.
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76ers vs. Celtics Game 1 Odds, Props, Picks
Note: Odds and lines for NBA playoff player props and games. Be sure to check the best NBA betting sites for the most up-to-date numbers before finalizing your wager(s).
James Harden Over 3.5 Turnovers
Harden will likely be required to assume much of Joel Embiid’s vacated usage. Harden averaged 3.5 turnovers in four games against a much less imposing defensive Brooklyn Nets squad. The Boston Celtics are one of the top defensive units in the league. And they’ll be on their home floor.
Look for Marcus Smart and Co. to hound Harden and frustrate him over the course of four quarters. That could include everything from sticky on-ball defense, active hands and bodies in passing lanes, and drawing charges. Boston is laying nearly double-digit points, so the suggestion is they’ll smother Philly in Game 1.
Jayson Tatum Over 1.5 Steals + Blocks
We like Harden to cough up the rock at least four times tonight. And, naturally, if that occurs, we expect Tatum to have his fingerprints on the defensive side of the boxscore. Tatum is averaging 1.2 blocks and 0.7 steals across six contests this postseason, and went Over 1.5 in four.
Removing Embiid from the equation, means less capable – and less vertically gifted – players will take a higher percentage of the Sixers’ shots. Sometimes betting starts with presumptions. Presuming the Celtics win with relative ease – as the odds suggest – it’s reasonable to bank on defensive output from Tatum.
Suns vs. Nuggets Game 2 Odds, Props, Picks
Devin Booker Over 2.5 Threes
Booker’s Game 1 against the Nuggets was eerily similar to his Game 1 versus the Clippers. He shot 10 of 19 while being shut out from beyond the arc on low volume. He went on to average 3.5 treys on 6.8 attempts over the next four games to close out Los Angeles, and it’s reasonable to expect improvement this time around as well.
The Suns dropped their opener in Denver by 18 points. They will certainly make adjustments in Game 2. Among them may be more assertiveness from Booker, specifically from three-point range. We’re banking on efficiency from Booker, as he’s not as voluminous from deep as some other NBA superstars, but we like his chances if he gets up at least six quality looks.
Nikola Jokic (-0.5 Assists) vs. Chris Paul
Chris Paul has a wealth of experience, so a road playoff tilt won’t throw him off of his game. Not too much at least. However, it’s difficult to shy away from Jokic’s distribution ability, particularly on his home floor.
We have to acknowledge that Jokic is sharing more of the playmaking duties with Jamal Murray during the postseason. However, he still holds a higher assist rate than Chris Paul, who has the luxury of ceding usage and playmaking duties to Kevin Durant and Booker.
