Best NBA Play-In Tournament Player Prop Bets Today (April 13) (Archive)
The “first round” of the NBA’s play-in tournament concludes Wednesday night with two games.
Here are three total prop picks from the matchups via BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review), one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 – 07:00 PM EDT at State Farm Arena
Trae Young and Kevin Huerter
- Over/Under 42.5 Points + Assists
- Over/Under 12.5 Points
ESPN has the telecast of this Eastern Conference matchup between the No. 10 Hornets and No. 9 Hawks, and I expect Charlotte’s season to end with a loss. Still, it was a good all-around year for Michael Jordan’s team as it is playing extra basketball for the first time since 2016.
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LaMelo Ball was the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year and got even better this season. He may have an NBA MVP Award in his future.
Now, there are three reasons I think the Hornets lose. Few of their players are used to a playoff atmosphere; the team is horrible defensively, allowing 114.9 points per game (worst of any team still playing); and Atlanta is at home.
Red-Hot
Remember, the Hawks got red-hot at home last year, too, and it carried them to the Eastern Conference Finals. I’m not saying that will happen again, but Trae Young and company have won 19 of their past 22 at State Farm Arena, with those 19 victories the most in the NBA over that span dating to Jan. 17.
In those 22 home games, the Hawks are putting up 121.4 ppg and shooting 49.8 percent overall, 38.9 from deep and 82.9 from the free-throw line. All those numbers would have led the NBA over a full season (and obviously including the road games).
More Picks: Hornets vs. Hawks NBA Play-In Tournament Predictions for Wednesday
Young led the NBA in total points and total assists, becoming just the second player in NBA history to lead the league in both categories in the same season, joining Nate "Tiny" Archibald (1972-73).
Young had an NBA-best 42 point/assist double-doubles, tied with Mookie Blaylock for the most in team history for one season. Young completely raised his game in the 2021 playoffs to become a national star, and I fully expect more of the same.
Electric Duo
As for Huerter, who like Young was a 2018 first-round pick, he averaged only 12.1 points this season but did have 16 games of at least 20 points. In fact, Young and Huerter are one of only five duos of Hawks draft classmates, in franchise history, to have at least 16 games scoring 20 points in the same game.
Huerter’s highest season point total average against any team was 18.0 against Charlotte as he shot a stellar 52.1 percent from the field and 54.8 percent from deep. We told you the Hornets were lousy on defense.
NBA Prop Pick: Trae Young Over 42.5 Points + Assists (-125) at BetOnline
NBA Prop Pick: Kevin Huerter Over 12.5 Points (-105) at BetOnline
San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 09:30 PM EDT at Smoothie King Center
CJ McCollum
- Over/Under 31.5 Points + Assists
While both these teams finished at least 10 games under .500, it has to be considered a success for both no matter what happens here or for the winner in Friday’s game. The Spurs are in rebuild mode and the Pelicans didn’t have superstar Zion Williamson all season.
With the addition of CJ McCollum via trade this year, New Orleans might be scary good in the 2022-23 campaign if Zion can actually take the court and stay in shape.
Other than Zion, there appear to be no injury worries here. Pelicans second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram missed the final three games with a sore knee but will play.
Betting Angle
That said, I’m a tad concerned about that so I’m not going to do a prop pick on him but instead McCollum, one of the few players on the team with playoff experience from his Portland days.
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While McCollum really isn’t a true point guard, he was the only player in the NBA to average 22-plus points and five-plus assists this season while averaging less than 2.1 turnovers. He also finished tied for 20th in the NBA in three-pointers made per game (3.0).
McCollum averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 assists while with the Blazers but has raised that to 24.3 and 5.8 with the Pels. In four games against the Spurs, he averaged 26.0 points and 3.8 assists.
Controlling the Offense
“You get to control the offense — the tempo, the flow. It’s just a different game when you have the ball in your hands from the beginning. I haven’t had this since college,” McCollum said of playing in New Orleans.
“I get to play a role where it’s my responsibility to orchestrate, to organize, to make sure we’re calling the right plays. … I have to be that guy for our team all the time. I get to show that I can handle this role night-to-night and get buckets the way I did in Portland.”
One thing we do know: In an elimination game, McCollum is going to play heavy minutes. He might top this total on points alone.
NBA Prop Pick: CJ McCollum Over 31.5 Points + Assists (-111) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.