NBA Playoffs Props for Today: 2 Props to Target on Sunday (4/16)
NBA Playoffs Props for Today: 2 Props to Target on Sunday (4/16)
This is one of the best sports weekends of the entire year. There's nothing quite like the first weekend of the NBA playoffs.
Yesterday's action did not disappoint, as we were gifted thrillers in Cleveland and Sacramento. And, with four more games on tap today, this should be an excellent Sunday basketball slate.
Let's jump into today's picks!
Sunday, April 16 NBA Props
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 11.5 Rebounds (-130) (Bet $130 to Collect $230) Best odds available at DraftKings; click here to bet
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most fun players to wager on come playoff time. Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer notoriously refuses to play Giannis more than 32 or 33 minutes per game in the regular season, so he gets a massive bump every time the team is in a close (or somewhat close) playoff game.
When seeing at least 32 minutes of action this season, Giannis has grabbed at least 12 boards in 25 of 39 games (64.1% hit rate), averaging 13.2 rebounds per game. And, when seeing at least 36 minutes of action this season, this over has cashed in 15 of 19 games, where he's averaged 14.6 RPG.
Milwaukee's defensive scheme allows Giannis to roam and go nuts as a rebounder. He'll often guard the opposing team's worst shooting non-center, which will likely result in a mix of Caleb Martin and Jimmy Butler today, with the possibility for some Kevin Love possessions sprinkled in, too. Giannis has played 15 full games against the Heat over the last four seasons; he's averaged 13.6 RPG in these games, grabbing 12+ boards in 12 of the 15 contests. He had 15 rebounds in 36 minutes in his lone full game against Miami this season, and we could see a repeat performance today.
Los Angeles Lakers Over 22.5 Assists (-120) (Bet $120 to Collect $220) Best odds available at DraftKings; click here to bet
Let's start with an awesome stat: The Los Angeles Lakers recorded more than 22.5 assists in 33 of their 36 games, with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis active, averaging 26.9 assists per game.
Here's another one: The Memphis Grizzlies conceded more than 22.5 assists to their opponents in 71 of 82 games this season, good for an average of 26.4 assists allowed per game.
These figures beg the question: why is this line as low as it is? Perhaps, it's due to the slower-paced nature of postseason basketball. Or, maybe an expectation that the Lakers will lean more on isolation scoring is baked into the line. Either way, I think this is a significant over-correction.
Despite scoring just 108 points in their play-in victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers still managed to record 27 assists. They've cashed this in six of seven games against the Grizzlies over the last two seasons. And they're 21-for-27 at this number since the trade deadline. Memphis gave up at least 23 assists in 16 of their last 20 home games and in 8 of their 12 games last postseason. LeBron James' squad will need to play solid team basketball to come out of Game 1 with a win this afternoon.