The Play-In Tournament is officially in the books which means it’s time to bring on the NBA Playoffs for real. All eight series will begin this weekend with a four-game slate scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks will do the honors of getting the bracket started this afternoon. That being said, the opportunities to hit some winning NBA betting picks extend far beyond the first game. Read on for a jam-packed Saturday edition of our featured NBA player props. Today’s NBA prediction specials include props for Khris Middleton and Paul George.
Yesterday’s NBA Player Props Recap
We hit the nail on the head with each of our two NBA betting picks for Friday’s Play-In Game. Kyle Anderson showed out in more ways than one in the Memphis Grizzlies’ upset win. This included crushing the over on 5.5 rebounds. We also hit on our NAB player props pick of over 9.5 points for Draymond Green. An overtime 3-pointer did the trick to cash that ticket. Now, we’ll look to ride our momentum into the First Round of the NBA Playoffs!
NBA Betting Prediction: NBA Player Props | May 22
Khris Middleton (MIL) Over 20.5 Points
We kick off Saturday’s NBA betting picks with a play to the over on 20.5 points for Khris Middleton. As the complementary scoring option to Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA Playoffs figure to bring out the best of Middleton. He comes into Saturday’s series opener on a scoring tear as well. In the last eight games he has played, Middleton has eclipsed both the NBA player props threshold and his season scoring an average of 20.4 points six times. This includes a 21-point effort against the same Miami Heat team that the Bucks will face in the First Round one week ago. The Heat are a top-five scoring defense for the season. But given that Jimmy Butler and Co. were responsible for ending Milwaukee’s season last year, expect the Bucks to come out firing in Game 1.
Paul George (LAC) Over 4.5 Assists
Speaking of teams looking to right a wrong from last year’s NBA Playoffs, the Clippers carry far less weight in terms of expectations this time around. Yet, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are back for another crack at a title run. They have a sturdy supporting cast of experienced veterans around them too. Teammates capable of getting to open space and knocking down shots will be critical to this NBA player props selection of taking the over on 4.5 assists for George on Saturday.
The Awesemo NBA Betting Player Props Tool is in favor of this pick. It certainly helps that we are getting plus-money odds for George to exceed an assists line that falls well short of his season average of 5.2 per game. While it’s true that the Clippers have been banged up all season, even when healthy, there isn’t really a true set-up point guard on the roster. Leonard and George will handle the ball often for as long as L.A. extends their postseason stay. Of course, there are also the well-documented struggles of George as a scorer in prior postseasons. If the shots aren’t falling against a sturdy defensive team in the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, PG13 could opt to take on more of a distributor role in the offense.
Jalen Brunson (DAL) Under 2.5 Rebounds
It will be interesting to see how the Mavericks go about distributing minutes in Game 1 of their First Round series. One Dallas player who has seen his minutes fluctuate repeatedly throughout the season is Jalen Brunson. Such uncertainty is the primary motivator in making an NBA prediction that Brunson will fall short of 2.5 total rebounds in Saturday’s game. Although his final season minutes averaged was exactly 25.0, Brunson saw fewer than 20 minutes in three of the Mavs’ final five games. That being said, minutes didn’t necessarily translate into boards for the 24-year-old. Take the final game of the regular season for example. Brunson played 27 minutes, yet failed to corral a single rebound. Multiple question marks lead to an NBA betting play on the under.
Jeff Green (BKN) Over 1.5 Made 3-Pointers
The primetime NBA Playoffs matchup between the Nets and Boston Celtics will feature superstars all over the court. While Jeff Green is nothing more than a role player on a loaded Brooklyn roster, the fact that the Nets’ stars are now all healthy actually plays right into our hands for NBA betting. His minutes may have been declining down the stretch of the regular season, but Green’s shooting was heating up. He knocked down a minimum of two 3-pointers in seven of the last nine games. Despite seeing only 17 minutes of action in Brooklyn’s game one week ago, Green still managed to bury five triples.
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Given the role he plays in the offense when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are all available, Green should have no trouble in earning a handful of spot-up looks from deep on Saturday. The Celtics were a bottom-ten team in defending the 3-point arc this season. Add in the profitable plus-money odds and this is an NBA player props opportunity not to miss.
Facundo Campazzo (DEN) Under 5.5 Assists
Thanks to several injuries that impacted the Nuggets’ backcourt late in the season, Facundo Campazzo was thrust into playing increased minutes and essentially orchestrating the team’s offense. In a six-game stretch spanning May 3-13, Campazzo distributed 6 or more assists on four occasions. Unfortunately, the path to playing over 30 minutes per game is not as clear as it was during that stretch. Fellow point guard Monte Morris made his return to the lineup late in the season and figures to take on a much larger role going forward into the NBA Playoffs. For as gifted a passer as he is, this NBA betting line of 5.5 total assists is far too high given the evolving situation. Under is the play here to wrap up Saturday’s NBA player props card.
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