Three playoff games in the NBA on Monday and two series could come to an end – I think at least one does. Here is a player prop pick from each with NBA odds from BetOnline, one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets
Monday, April 25, 2022 – 07:00 PM EDT at Barclays Center
Kevin Durant
- Over/Under 28.5 Points
I was planning on doing a write-up on Ben Simmons' props as he was supposed to make his season and Nets debut in this one, but the wimp complained of back pain on Sunday and will not play. He was being absolutely savaged around the league and on ESPN Sunday when that news broke. What a total bum.
The Nets are looking to avoid the sweep, and I tend to think they will even though they obviously aren’t coming back from 3-0 down to win the series. The Celtics have done an absolutely phenomenal job on Brooklyn star Kevin Durant. He had only 11 shot attempts (one in the fourth quarter) on Saturday’s 109-103 loss and is shooting just 36.5 percent in the series. Durant said he’s thinking too much.
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"I try to figure out how to be the best version of myself and also not getting in my teammates’ way," Durant said. "Sometimes I think too much about it. Sometimes I need to go out there with no thoughts in my head and just play."
Boston has been throwing body after body at Durant and it’s frustrating him. Sure, part of me thinks he might go off in Game 4 with the season on the line, but the Celtics are clearly daring other players to beat them so this total seems too high. Coach Steve Nash also said he thinks both KD and Kyrie Irving are a bit tired. Sounds like he’s almost handing out a reason for his team to lose Monday.
NBA Prop Pick: Kevin Durant Under 28.5 Points (-113) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, April 25, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at Wells Fargo Center
Joel Embiid
- Over/Under 12.5 Rebounds
The Sixers return home with a 3-1 series lead, and I think they do finish off the Raptors because Philadelphia also gets back excellent defensive guard Matisse Thybulle. He wasn’t able to travel to Canada because he’s not vaccinated for COVID-19.
We are going to focus this NBA pick, though, on Joel Embiid. The NBA’s scoring champion has a torn ligament in his right (shooting) thumb. Embiid will need surgery, but he’s going to play through it. Seemed to affect him quite a bit in Game 4 (he was hurt in Game 3) on Saturday as Embiid was held to 21 points and eight rebounds, his first time with less than 10 boards in more than a month.
"I would say it was more, you know, when it comes to rebounding, at the free throw, and also passing," Embiid said after Game 4 of how his injury impacted his play.
I don’t think the Sixers have a prayer of winning the East if Embiid is limited, but as I said they still should win at home here. But we are going under his rebounding total.
NBA Prop Pick: Joel Embiid Under 12.5 Rebounds (-106) with BetOnline
Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks
Monday, April 25, 2022 – 09:30 PM EDT at American Airlines Center
Donovan Mitchell
- Over/Under 2.5 Made Three-Pointers
This is the only series that won’t end on Monday with it tied 2-2. Now that Luka Doncic is back for the Mavericks, I do like Dallas in the series – although it may well go seven.
If Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell was shooting better, this series might already be over. He’s getting his points by averaging 30.3 ppg in the series, and Mitchell’s career postseason scoring average is 29.0 points in 37 games, which marks the fifth-best playoff scoring average in NBA history (minimum of 20 games played).
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However, “Spida” is hitting only 39.7 percent from the field and 24.0 percent from deep. So why do I like the over 2.5 made three-pointers here? Simply because he shoots so many of them. Mitchell is averaging 8.5 three-point attempts in the series and all we need is three to win this prop.
Mitchell did make three of them in Game 2. He just became the franchise all-time playoff leader in made three-pointers. Byron Russell held the mark with 126 in 96 games, and it took Mitchell only 37 to pass him.
NBA Prop Pick: Mitchell Over 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (-139) with 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.
