NBA Playoffs Player Props Bet Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/25)
We are into the NBA playoffs with series entering their third game of play across tonight's slate. The season has been fun, and we got some goliaths at the top of the food chain, but these are lining up to be an exciting playoffs. If you're just joining us for the first time, welcome. It's been a great year, 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 by staying up-to-date with the 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 books. Player props rarely have identical odds across platforms, so ensure you get the best value. Let's get to it.
Friday’s Best NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets
Last Time: 2-1 | Season: 150-107 | Each bet will be a single unit, unless specified otherwise.
Paolo Banchero Under 33.5 Points + Assists (-115 at bet365)
Once again, we have a low total around 198 as Orlando returns home to try and salvage a shot at this series. Still, I don't think they are exactly in a position to do so. While Banchero has gone off in each of the first two games, this prop is playing off a much bigger sample size this season. Boston is still a solid defense that ended the year seventh overall defensively, with the slowest pace of play, only behind Orlando. Banchero only covered this line in 39 percent of games this season, and tonight's game lines up perfectly for more Unders. It feels a little backwards after Banchero has taken off to open the series, but it's not consistent. I expect him to come back down to earth as Orlando fails to reach 100 points today, and scoring across the board is down.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 53.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-110 at DraftKings)
On the other hand, I'm finding the Overs in Milwaukee-Indiana with a 230 over/under. After Milwaukee dropped the first two games, the Bucks return home, where Giannis gets a bump in efficiency. Obviously, his usage rate is sky high, around 36 percent, and he should play around 40 minutes. The Pacers are a pace-up spot, and their defense takes a hit when playing on the road this year, sitting right in the middle of the pack among NBA teams. If Milwaukee is going to win, they need Giannis to step up. The Pacers have allowed the 10th most PAR to opposing power forwards across the season, and I expect Giannis to go off tonight in their home playoff debut this season.
LeBron James Over 28.5 Points + Assists (-120 at bet365)
It's the playoffs, which means betting on the big names, and for the most exciting series to start the playoffs ( in my humble opinion), I'm taking LeBron's Overs. He's projected 32 on this combo prop by the BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet, and I'm following the Sheet to the grave this season as it's only been excellent for me across all sports. I'd recommend checking it out if you haven't. Minnesota isn't the friendliest option when it comes to betting opponents’ Overs, but this is a prop James has covered in 68 percent of games this year, and after a tough series opening, he clearly bounced back in Game 2. Luka is going to get a lot of the Timberwolves’ attention, and James should still see the floor around 38 minutes. Give me the Over without question.
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Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.