NBA Playoffs: Best Bets and Player Props for Monday Night
Home teams dominated Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, but will that trend continue for Monday's 3-game slate? Sportsbooks appear to believe so as all three home teams are 4-point favorites or better tonight.
7:00 PM EDT: Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers (-6) - Over/Under: 202.5
7:30 PM EDT: Philadelphia 76ers at NY Knicks (-5.5) - Over/Under: 205.5
10:00 PM EDT: LA Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-7) - Over/Under 224.5
Best Bet: 76ers at Knicks Over 205.5
Our best bet from game 1 of this set was a hammer on the under for Magic/Cavs and we feel just as strong about this over.
Looking at the last 10 games for both of these teams, only 1 our of 20 games has finished under 206 points. Taking that trend even further, the 76ers have gone over 206 points in 12 out of 13, while the Knicks have gone over in 15 of 16.
The Knicks, in particular, have crushed this total, with their average total coming in at over 226 PPG over that 16-game stretch. With trends this strong, we just have to trust the numbers and hammer the over.
Michael Porter Jr. (DEN): Over 7.0 REB
MPJ and the Nuggets look to take a commanding 2-0 lead on Los Angeles after a tightly contested 1st half of Game 1. Porter has reached the 7 rebound mark in his last 10 appearances against the Lakers, including 8 boards a few nights ago.
Averaging 7.2 RPG in his playoff career, all numbers are trending in the right direction for MPJ to flirt again with a double-double on Monday night.
Franz Wagner (ORL): Over 8.5 Rebounds + Assists
Expecting the Magic to be more competitive out of the gates in Game 2, Franz Wagner should become the efficient playmaking wing he was all season long. Franz had 13 potential assists in game 1, and although securing just three dimes, the Magic are bound to make more shots in Game 2 as they settle into the pace of this series.
Averaging 10.1 rebounds + assists in four games against Cleveland this season, look for Wagner to get back on track as the Magic look to tie this series up.
G Donte DiVincenzo (NYK): Over 15.5 PTS
DiVincenzo played just 24 minutes in Game 1 while shooting just 3 of 10 from the field. While Miles McBride became the answer to secure Thibs a Game 1 win, we don’t expect DiVincenzo to stay quiet in this series.
Averaging 15.3 PPG against the 76ers this season and 19.3 PPG on 38% from beyond the arc post ASB, Donte is another player who should get back on track in Game 2 as New York looks to go up 2-0.
G Darius Garland (CLE): Under 26.0 PRA
Watching this series unfold, it looks like Donovan Mitchell will be the guard to take over in tough moments where Cleveland’s offense stalls out. Garland will get his assists (7.2 APG post ASB), but may not put up enough shot attempts to reach this PRA number.
With Jalen Suggs hounding him defensively and a lanky paint presence down low, expect Garland to struggle to score in what should become an extremely physical Game 2.
Garland has gone over this 26 points + rebounds + assists line in 3 of 6 playoff games. However, with the Orlando defense being one of the more pesky ones in the league, look for these rebounding and scoring opportunities to be slim.