JutPicks
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The real fun begins today. The 1st round of the NBA playoffs kicks off on Saturday with four games to get bettors going.
Let’s dive into my best NBA player prop bets, while you can also check out our NBA picks for all 4 of today’s games.
Anthony Edwards, MIN, Over 25.5 points (-109)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Anthony Edwards is ready to show the world he’s ready to take the next step. They’ll have to go through the 6-seeded Phoenix Suns’ 3-headed monster to get to that next step. The Timberwolves return Karl-Anthony Towns to the lineup, who will be playing in his 3rd game since returning from a month-long hiatus. Nonetheless, this is Edwards’s moment to shine.
Caesars Sportsbook is offering a slight discount at what other major books are offering. DraftKings and FanDuel have already moved Edwards’s point prop to 26.5 – I expect the same from Caesars by tipoff.
Naturally, games slow down in the playoffs and operate more in the halfcourt. This fits Edwards to a tee, as he ranks in the top 10 in points per game, operating in isolation. The Suns will throw long and active bodies at Edwards like Kevin Durant and Royce O’Neale, but I’ll gladly back the former #1 pick at this line. He surpassed 26 points in the final four games of last season’s playoffs – a moment I’m sure has stung him for a while.
Kelly Oubre Jr, PHI, Over 12.5 points (-105)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Who on the Philadelphia 76ers will step up when Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey get hounded? My prediction is Kelly Oubre Jr., as Tobias Harris has seemed to lose all his confidence. He was benched in the closing quarter for Kyle Lowry and Nicolas Batum, who had a season-high 20 points on Wednesday Night to get the 76ers locked into the #2 seed. Oubre scored just 11 points on 3/9 from the field, but all 11 points came in the 2nd half. Unlike Harris, Oubre does not lack confidence. He’s a high-volume scorer that can score 15+ points a night, even as a 3rd option.
The New York Knicks will match Tyrese Maxey with OG Anunoby, while Isaiah Hartenstein gets the pleasure of matching up with Embiid. We’ll see how the Knicks handle Oubre, who is just a 31% 3-point shooter, but the opportunities should be there for him, who helped lead the charge in the 2nd half for the Sixers come from behind win.
DraftKings Sportsbook is laying a great price of -105, while FanDuel is on its way to moving Oubre’s point prop to 13.5.
