Best NBA Playoffs Player Props to Consider for May 3 (Archive)
The NBA playoffs continue with a pair of Game 2’s this Tuesday evening. Here there are a few NBA player prop picks from Bovada, a top-rated sportsbook, that should bring you the best value for each game.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics
Tuesday, May 03, 2022 – 07:00 PM EDT at TD Garden
The Boston Celtics were shockingly bad in Game 1 at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Boston’s 89 points was the team’s lowest total since the calendar changed to 2022. This needs to be a bounce-back performance for the offense.
Jaylen Brown Prop Analysis
Jaylen Brown was one of the most consistent players in the first round of the playoffs against Brooklyn. In all four games, Brown scored either 22 or 23 points and made exactly nine field goals.
So, it was surprising to see him shoot just 4-of-13 on Sunday and score 12 points, his fewest in a playoff game since the Bucks eliminated Boston in May 2019. But Brown was able to hit a few late threes to get back some confidence in his shot. He finished with three made threes, his most in a playoff game this year.
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Brown makes at least three threes in nearly half of his games this season. Milwaukee is a high-scoring team and it is going to take a lot of points to beat the Bucks in this series. Look for Brown to keep shooting well from three and stack another game with at least three from downtown.
NBA Pick: Jaylen Brown Over 2.5 Three-Point Field Goals Made (-129) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
Jayson Tatum Prop Analysis
Jayson Tatum has had at least five assists in each playoff game this year. He had six in Game 1 against Milwaukee, which continues his upward trend in dishing out assists this season. Through Christmas, Tatum was averaging 3.8 assists per game. Since January, he is up to 4.9 assists per game. Since the All-Star break, he is up to 5.1 assists per game.
Marcus Smart, Boston’s leader in assists this year, is questionable with a thigh injury as he was visibly shaken up in Game 1. If we assume Smart is less than 100% if he does play, and Jaylen Brown improves on his 12 points from Game 1, then that should leave Tatum more opportunities to get assists.
He still had six assists in Game 1 despite Boston’s 89 points. With the better offense in mind, this should make Tatum hitting his over in assists an easy call for Bucks vs. Celtics playoffs Game 2.
NBA Pick: Jayson Tatum Over 5.5 Assists (-143) with Bovada
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Tuesday, May 03, 2022 – 09:30 PM EDT at FedExForum
The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors played an exciting Game 1 on Sunday, winning 117-116 by the Warriors. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jordan Poole became the first trio of players age 22 or younger to score 30 points in the same playoff game. But there was a player on each team who did not put up the scoring we expected him to, and that is where we will look at value for them bouncing back in Game 2.
Desmond Bane Prop Analysis
Desmond Bane was Memphis’ best player when Morant was out this season. He was electric in the first round against Minnesota when he made 15 threes in the first two games on the road.
But on Sunday, Bane shot 1-of-5 from three, 3-of-10 from the field, and he only scored nine points. While Morant took too many threes (11) in Game 1, Bane probably did not take enough. He is the team’s best shooter, and he needs to remind us of that in Game 2.
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Bane has 34 games this season where he made at least four threes, which ranked fourth in the NBA. Bane already has two games against Golden State where he made five threes. Four will do this time to hit his over, and that is our prop pick for Bane here.
NBA Pick: Desmond Bane Over 3.5 Three-Point Field Goals Made (+127) with Bovada
Klay Thompson Prop Analysis
While Desmond Bane recently became the second player in NBA history to make at least seven threes in consecutive playoff games in the same season, Klay Thompson was the first to do it.
Thompson even hit the game-winning three in Game 1, and he had the game-clinching defense against Morant on the final play. Morant dismisses Thompson’s presence having much impact on the missed layup, so that could be another chip on his shoulder.
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Despite the clutch plays at the end, Game 1 was not a banner performance for Thompson, who scored 15 points, dealt with early foul trouble, and he missed two late free throws that opened the Warriors up to lose. He also shot 6-of-19 from the field, his lowest FG% in his last 21 playoff games.
While Jordan Poole should cool down some for the Warriors, look for Thompson to heat up and hit him over in points.
NBA Pick: Klay Thompson Over 21.5 Points (-118) with Bovada
*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.