Germantas Kneita
NBA
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Tonight we get to see the tip-off of yet another NBA conference semi-final as the Denver Nuggets visit the Phoenix Suns. It looks set to be an exciting series as the young Deandre Ayton will be tasked with slowing down Nikola Jokic.
That is something the Portland Trail Blazers and many in the NBA were unable to do this season. The Bucks will also be taking on the Nets with James Harden unavailable from the get-go, which should give Milwaukee a huge confidence boost.
You can find the full game previews here, but for now let’s take a closer look at tonight’s NBA player props selections.
Brook Lopez over 14.5 points (-106)
Without DeAndre Jordan taking the floor for the Nets, Brook Lopez is by far the biggest player in the game. Lopez has the physical bulk to set himself in the low post and there is no one on the Nets who can force him out of there. This is where he is aided by his soft touch around the rim too, which he demonstrated in Game 1 of the series. Lopez made eight of his ten shots in the paint and attempted only one three-pointer, which showed his willingness to get mixed up on the inside.
What also helps him here is that he is a terrific foul shooter, knocking down close to 85 percent of his attempts in the regular season. With his clear size advantage, look for the Bucks to keep finding him in the paint. He has cleared 15 points in three of his five playoff games and, matchup-wise, he is much better suited to punishing the Nets than the Heat.
Devin Booker over 29.5 points (-118)
Devin Booker caught fire in the first round that culminated with a 47-point explosion in Game 6 to close out the Lakers. During the series he had four games with 30 or more points despite the Lakers having strong perimeter defenders in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso and Wesley Matthews. It is a level of defensive play that the Nuggets may not be able to provide. Facundo Campazzo is a good perimeter defender but will be matched up against Chris Paul tonight. Austin Rivers does not offer much on the defensive end while Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr could struggle to chase him around screens all night. Damian Lillard consistently torched this Nuggets and it’s hard to see them suddenly being able to contain someone like Booker.
Facundo Campazzo over 1.5 made threes (+134)
In the first round against the Lakers the Suns allowed a team that lacked snipers to make nearly 36 percent of their shots from deep. Now, however, they will be taking on a Nuggets team that is far more deadly from outside the arc.
Denver made over 41 percent of their threes in round one of the playoffs. Facundo Campazzo will be dangerous tonight. He made at least two shots from deep in each of the first four games to open the playoffs.
Campazzo always seems to find space when teams send help against Nikola Jokic. The Serbian big man is averaging 33 points per game in this postseason and was able to knock out the Trail Blazers with his hot scoring.
Do not expect the Suns to let him score so freely. As a result, Campazzo could continue to thrive for the Nuggets.
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