Best NBA player prop bets for today 4/21: Marcus Smart steals the show

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart
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Germantas Kneita

NBA

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Like most Lithuanians, I started watching basketball from the age of six. I'm based out in London and played basketball at the University of Lincoln here in the UK. I had always had an interest in the NBA but things really took off in the summer of 2010. That year Linas Kleiza led Lithuania to 3rd place at the World Championships and signed with the Toronto Raptors to replace the departing Chris Bosh. I've been a Raptors fan since that day and I've not missed a game since. I've been handicapping games for more than a decade, specializing in player props. For Germantas Kneita media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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The NBA Playoffs continue on Friday night as 3 more series shift locations. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks find themselves in desperate positions. Both lost their opening 2 games and know that a home loss here would all but knock them out. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. The New York Knicks, on the other hand, will be hoping to hold onto the homecourt advantage they managed to gain with a road win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. You can check out our NBA picks on the side and total for each of today’s games, but for now, let’s dive into my favorite NBA player prop bets for tonight.

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Marcus Smart to record 2+ steals (-115)

Marcus Smart has done a terrific job for the Boston Celtics in locking down Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. He has done this by being a pest on the defensive end, showing just why he was last year’s defensive player of the year. Smart has recorded 3 steals in each of the 2 games so far, making this line look like a terrific value selection. He has recorded multiple steals in 9 of his last 12 appearances. The Hawks should be a great opponent for him too. They finished the season 18th in opponent steals per game. If the Celtics can keep applying pressure on the Hawks guards, they should be able to force errors. Smart is more than capable to pick Atlanta off tonight.

Isaiah Hartenstein over 4.5 points (-115)

New York Knicks backup center Isaiah Hartenstein should play an important part in tonight’s encounter. He has been seemingly splitting minutes with starter Mitchell Robinson, seeing the lion’s share of playing time in Game 2. The same could be the case tonight. With the Cavaliers having no traditional backup center seeing major minutes, Hartenstein should enjoy a size advantage down low. He is averaging 6 points a game in the postseason and managed 7.8 per night against the Cavaliers in 4 regular season games. With Robinson also someone who is a keen shot blocker that can find himself in foul trouble, it would not be surprising to see Hartenstein play a larger role tonight. This line feels set a couple of points too low. Back the over.

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Jamal Murray over 23.5 points (-113)

After scoring 40 points in Game 2 of the series, it feels like we are getting to see prime Jamal Murray once again. He has been consistently aggressive in attacking the Timberwolves’ backcourt of Mike Conley Jr. and Anthony Edwards, managing 22 field-goal attempts in each game. Of the hosts’ current starters, the pair are the lowest ranked this season in terms of defensive rating. They should remain targets tonight. Murray is also well positioned to punish any big that switches onto him thanks to his explosive first step and deep shooting range. Nikola Jokic has seemed content with taking a back seat to the guard, with Murray leading the team in shot attempts in both games. Similar aggressiveness here should lead to another high-scoring game.

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