NBA Playoffs Prop Bets, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/119)
The NBA playoffs have arrived. With a lot of teams in contention for most of the season and fighting for playoff spots, this could be an exciting postseason. For the first day of the playoffs, we’ll highlight some players who could help their teams grab an instant 1-0 lead. Check out our top NBA player prop bets below.
Saturday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
James Harden Over 22.5 Points (-120)
We know James Harden’s reputation in the playoffs is not good, but last year, he did his best to keep the Clippers in contention. He averaged 21.4 points in the six-game series against Dallas. Now, the Clippers are coming in as one of the hottest teams, ending the season on an 18-3 run.
Harden has been hot himself, averaging 24.6 points per game over his last 11 games and 23.3 points per game in four contests against the Nuggets. These games were before the All-Star break, when Denver was allowing 115.9 points per game. They've since regressed, allowing an average of 118.9.
Kevin Porter Jr. Over 10.5 Points (-120)
Damian Lillard is trending in the right direction to make his return, but it has been confirmed he will miss Game 1 of this series. Kevin Porter Jr. is proving to be a great addition to the Bucks after coming over from the Clippers. He has stepped up and played well, scoring 20+ points in four of his last five games.
In his last matchup against the Pacers in March, he contributed 16 points in 19 minutes. Now that he is playing 30 minutes a night regularly, he should be an important factor for Milwaukee.
Jalen Duren Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-110)
This season has been an amazing story for the Pistons. This was the worst team last season. They had a 28-game losing streak. Now, they head to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. For a franchise that has a few championships, it's been a long time since they have seen any success. They haven't won a playoff series since 2008.
This mix of young players and contributing veterans has worked well. That includes Jalen Duren, who had a phenomenal season, averaging a double-double (11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game). Duren must be a presence down low if Detroit wants to pull off the upset.
Duren has had recent success against the Knicks, going over this combo prop total in two of the last three games against New York, including scoring 18 just a week ago. He should play a key part in this game.