NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets: Thursday (Thunder vs. Nuggets)
We are into the second round of the NBA playoffs. Injuries have derailed some teams' hopes for an NBA championship. After fighting hard, Denver is a 5-point favorite at home in Game 6, down 3-2 to Oklahoma City. It should be a great game in what's been a great season, and I hope we continue that trend tonight.
As always, monitor any potential news and lineup announcements. The best way to stay informed about NBA player props is to stay up-to-date with the latest news. That's not as prevalent in the playoffs, but you never know what might happen. The second-best way is to shop around at different sportsbooks. NBA player props rarely have identical odds across platforms, so ensure you get the best value. Let's get to it.
Unless specified otherwise, each bet will be for a single unit.
Thursday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 162-117
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 29.5 Points (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
I'm not sure if there's a prop out there that I will jump on taking more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s over on points in an elimination game, no matter against whom or where. Considering Gilgeous-Alexander has covered this line plenty during the playoffs and the regular season - at a 63% clip, mind you - I'm shocked at how low this number is for tonight's matchup.
The total is at a decent 215, and the Oklahoma City guard has covered this line in five of his last seven matches. Denver's defense didn't finish the regular season strong, ranking 23rd defensively. While they've limited the Thunder a bit in this series, I am still comfortable continuing to back the best offense in the league that Gilgeous-Alexander leads. The Oklahoma City guard will see the floor nearly 40 minutes on Thursday and will be the go-to guy if this game is close late. That should be plenty to get him to 30 points.
Jamal Murray Under 32.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-120 at bet365)
I'm fading Denver tonight, but I don't have it in me to bet against Nikola Jokic tonight. The other option is Jamal Murray. The Nuggets guard is facing an uphill battle against Oklahoma City, the best defense in the league, which has limited him in three out of the last four games.
Murray’s usage rate has bounced up and down, reaching 16% at its lowest and 32% at its highest. The Thunder seems to have this thing on lock after an early series scare. If Denver is going to survive, it will be through Jokic. The BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet projects Murray under 30 on this combo prop, and The Sheet hasn't failed me yet. I highly advise using it, if you don't already, as it's an easy way to build your bankroll.
Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.