Rockets vs. Warriors NBA Playoffs Player Props Bets: Friday (5/2)
We are into the NBA playoffs with the Warriors trying to lock up a series dub tonight against Houston. The season has been fun, and we got some goliaths at the top of the food chain, but these have been and will hopefully continue being a fantastic NBA 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 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 books. 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 a single unit.Â
Friday Best NBA Player Prop Bets
Last Time: 1-1 | Season: 155-110
Alperen Sengun Under 25.5 Pts + Ast (-110 at DraftKings)
I haven't discussed enough how elite the Warriors’ defense was over the second half of the season. After the All-Star break, they led the league in defensive rating while ranking in the top 10 in rebounding on both ends of the court. Their pace of play slowed down, ranking in the bottom 20 in the league, and they went 20-7 to close out the year. In the frontcourt, they weren't exactly strong, but over their final 15 games, they allowed the ninth fewest points to opposing centers. Sengun has covered this line in three of the five series games, but after getting the roof blown off and returning home, I expect Golden State to be rested and ready for a defensive clinic. The total is barely above 200 points, so it's not as if this will be a high possession affair, and even in 30 minutes of play scoring 131 points last time out, he still managed 15 points. He's projected closer to 23 on this combo prop, and feel free to shop around with some alts because I couldn't agree more.
Jimmy Butler Over 27.5 Pts + Reb (-115 at bet365)
It may be tempting to go with Steph Curry as "the guy" today in a clinching situation. However, Butler clearly shows an affinity for playing at home, scoring 25-plus points in his last four home games while finishing the regular season strong, averaging 20 points per game in his final eight matches, three points higher than his seasonal average. Besides being hurt and pulled in the third quarter by Steve Kerr, Butler has been playing over 40 minutes a night this series, and I expect a similar play time tonight. Houston's defense hasn't exactly been deadly, ranking 14th after the All-Star break, and again, it's a low total. Butler has been consistent on the boards with at least five in each full game he's played this series. When he's on the court, Butler will put up numbers. In a clear bounce-back game, I expect him to be a catalyst for a victory here for Golden State as they finish off the series upset over Houston.
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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.