Picks Summary
- Suns vs. Nuggets: Devin Booker Over 30.5 Points (-105) at BetMGM
- Suns vs. Nuggets: Jamal Murray Over 6.5 Assists (-106) at Caesars Sportsbook
- 76ers vs. Celtics: James Harden Double-Double / Yes (+100) at BetMGM
The NBA Playoffs are in Round 2. Tonight the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets will play the second game of their series while the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics will begin their series. This gives us an excellent opportunity to use the OddsTrader tool to find the very best NBA player props.
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets
Monday, May 01, 2023 – 10:00 PM EDT at Ball Arena
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
- Over 28.5 Points Scored
The Phoenix Suns will attempt to bounce back after losing 125-109 in Game 1 to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. The Suns had problems keeping pace with the Nuggets’ high-powered offense in Game 1 and will look to be even more aggressive on the offensive end.
The beauty of an NBA playoff series is that the coaches can make adjustments based on what they saw in the previous game and implement them immediately. Which adjustments will Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams make for his team tonight?
The Pick
Devin Booker is leading the Phoenix Suns in scoring during these playoffs averaging 35.5 points per game. Booker had 27 points in 40 minutes in Game 1. This was Booker’s lowest point output since his 26-point performance in the Suns’ Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in their opening-round playoff series.
In Game 2 against the Clippers, Booker scored 38 points. I would expect a similar bounce back in point production from Devin Booker tonight.
Devin Booker is a multi-faceted scorer who is dangerous in the paint, in the mid-range, and from behind the 3-point arc. Surely Monty Williams saw things that he will be able to exploit in the way that the Nuggets approach their defensive scheme against Devin Booker.
We would expect to see some new plays and new wrinkles in the Suns’ offense tonight. This will lead to Booker having a huge night.
NBA Prop Pick: Devin Booker Over 30.5 Points (-105) at BetMGM
Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
- Over 6.5 Assists
Jamal Murray was explosive in Denver’s Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns. Murray had 34 points in 37 minutes. The Nuggets took control of the game and the Suns were not able to keep pace with their offensive output. Yet the Nuggets know the job is not done and will face a motivated, desperate Suns team tonight.
The Pick
Jamal Murray garnered plenty of attention with his excellent shooting on Saturday night. Yet Murray’s playmaking and prolific passing flew under the radar. Murray had plenty of plays where he threw precise passes to Jokic for an easy bucket. People will continue to laud Murray’s three-point marksmanship, but he is becoming a complete offensive player with his improving passing ability.
Jamal Murray has gone over tonight’s assist prop total of 6.5 in 11 of his last 17 games. Over that 17 games span, Murray is averaging 7.2 assists per game. He will get it done again tonight.
NBA Prop Pick: Jamal Murray Over 6.5 Assists (-106) at Caesars Sportsbook
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Monday, May 01, 2023 – 07:30 PM EDT at TD Garden
James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a loss in a win when Joel Embiid sprained his right knee in Game 4 of their series sweep over the Brooklyn Nets. The Sixers’ star MVP candidate has been crucial for the 76ers’ success this season.
The 76ers will try to keep pace and keep the series competitive until Embiid can return to the lineup. That means more of an onus of offensive production will fall on the 76ers star James Harden.
The Pick
James Harden is no stranger to carrying an offense. Harden set record usage rates in Houston during his MVP year. He is averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 assists per game so far in this playoffs and has had a double-double in two of the four 76ers wins in Round 1.
With Joel Embiid out of the lineup, the Boston Celtics can expect a heavy dose of James Harden tonight. Harden has saved himself for these moments. His lesser usage this season means he will be fresher for games like tonight.
Harden will be doing everything on offense and expect to see plenty of drive and kick from him in the half-court setting. This will lead to plenty of assists when the Sixers run their “five out” offense. Tonight will be a throwback to 2018.
NBA Prop Pick: James Harden Double-Double / Yes (+100) at BetMGM
