Ricky Dimon
NBA
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We are continuing the weekend with a small six-game schedule in the NBA, although there are still plenty of opportunities to find great value on the betting market. Among the teams in action on Saturday are the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. Who is in line for a big night at the office? Let’s take a look at the four best player prop bets for Saturday’s slate.
D’Angelo Russell Over 6.5 assists (-104)
Russell has dished out double-digit assists three times in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ last six games and four times dating back to April 26. He has recorded at least seven in seven of the last nine contests. There is no reason to think that anything will suddenly change when Minnesota hosts the Boston Celtics on Saturday. Boston is in the bottom half of the league in the category of opponents’ assists per basket and it just watched the Cleveland Cavaliers assist on 27 of 36 field goals on Wednesday. Boston also doesn’t mind playing at a fast pace (middle of the pack in the NBA in that category) and Minnesota is the third-fastest team in pace of play (possessions per game). This could be a track meet, which means more statistics for everyone involved—including Russell’s assists.
Chris Paul Over 16.5 points (+100)
Paul can be a pass-first point guard at times, but of late he has been scoring in bunches for Phoenix. With Deandre Ayton sidelined, the Suns have to score most of their points on the perimeter or with their guards slashing to the basket. Paul has to be Devin Booker’s point-scoring sidekick when Ayton is not there to receive dump passes down low. The 36-year-old has scored 24 and 26 points in the past two contests and he has scored at least 17 points in five of seven outings during the month of May. He has scored in the 20s in eight of Phoenix’s last 13 games. The Suns are going up against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday and San Antonio has surrendered at least 124 points in three of their last five games. It should also be noted that the Spurs are locked into the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament, so motivation on the defensive end could be low.
Jimmy Butler Over 0.5 three-pointers made (-132)
Butler may not be a three-point sharpshooter, but his confidence from long range is at a high right now. He is coming off a 4-for-4 effort from the land of plenty in the Miami Heat’s Thursday win over the Philadelphia 76ers and he has drained at least one triple in three consecutive contests. Up next for the Heat is Milwaukee, which is dead last in the NBA in opponents’ three-pointers made per game and second-to-last in opponents’ three-point percentage. Look for Butler’s recent three-point success to continue.
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