It’s a must-see Friday night of NBA Playoff action with two games on the docket.
First, the Pacers try to take a stranglehold of their Round 2 series with the Cavaliers, and build a 3-0 series lead with a win in Game 3.
Then, the Nuggets return home with a split, but OKC just demolished them to even the series. It’s a pivotal Game 3 as one team will take the upper hand.
Our job remains the same: sift through the storylines and rosters to deliver NBA player props.
NBA Player Prop Picks for May 9
Shai Gilgeous Alexander Under 33.5 points (-120 at Bet365)
It was a big bounce-back night for SGA and the Thunder, who were smacked back into reality with a Game 1 upset loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 11-for-13 for 34 points, leading OKC to a 149-106 win.
The NBA’s leading scorer in the regular season has now scored at least 31 points in four straight playoff games, and his line is set for 33.5 in Game 3.
Even with those big scoring nights, SGA has only topped this total twice in six playoff games.
Denver will be at home, energized, and will likely make a more concerted effort to cut SGA off from those paint forays, and force him into shooting threes, as he’s connecting on just 27.8% so far.
Tyrese Haliburton Over 10.5 assists (+120 at Bet365)
Tyrese Haliburton has been a solid offensive contributor for the Pacers through two games against Cleveland, averaging 20.5 points on 61.5% shooting from the field.
He is also hitting a sharp 50% from 3-point range, including a dagger triple to earn the 121-119 come-from-behind win over Cleveland in Game 2.
So much for Cavs fans jeering him with “overrated” cheers earlier in the game.
Now at home, I think his focus will be on getting others involved, including teammate Pascal Siakam, who’s struggled to find his form of late, scoring 17 points or less in four straight games.
Haliburton has averaged 11 assists per game at home in the playoffs, and he’s doled out at least 11 dimes in four of seven postseason games.
Russell Westbrook Over 13.5 points (-110 at Bet365)
Let’s end with our favorite betting prop so far in these playoffs: Russell Westbrook scoring.
Russ led the Nuggets in scoring in a 149-106 thrashing, scoring 19 points on 5-for-11 shooting.
The books have again lifted his total, this time to 13.5 points, so this might be the last time to get in on this action.
Westbrook has scored at least 14 points in seven straight playoff games – not including Game 3 vs the Clippers, where he left after nine minutes with a foot injury.
If he tops this total again, there is no way you’ll see a Russ score line below 14.5 points the rest of these playoffs, which might not be that far, if OKC really decides to get down to business.
It’s definitely worth sprinkling something on that.
