The 2025-26 NBA Playoffs should deliver some memorable moments, and we’re going to work hard to make them as profitable as possible for all of our VSiN subscribers. So, make sure you head over to the VSiN NBA Playoffs Betting Hub for all of our postseason content. I’ll continue giving out NBA best bets and player props here throughout the playoffs, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on anything big that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work over the next couple of weeks. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Tuesday, May 5. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day. That’s also where you’ll get picks from my talented VSiN colleagues.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have!
Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons – 7:00 pm ET
I have a slight lean on the Cavaliers to cover in this game, but I’d like to see how the first game plays out. I already have a future on Cleveland to win the Eastern Conference, and I also added some Cavaliers to win this series. So, it’s not like I won’t have any rooting interest when it comes to the outcome. However, in Game 1, I am sticking with player props.
The first one I like is for Donovan Mitchell to score at least 25 points. Mitchell really struggled for a good portion of the Raptors series. After scoring at least 30 points in the first two games in the series, he failed to reach the 25-point mark in the final five games. The good news is that this matchup was very kind to Mitchell during the regular season. In two meetings with Detroit, Mitchell averaged 32.5 points per game, scoring at least 30 points in both. One thing to keep an eye on is Mitchell’s ability to draw fouls. He knocked down seven free throws in both meetings with the Pistons, and this is a Detroit team that can be overly physical. When you combine that with Mitchell’s ability to score at all three levels, this could be a game in which he really gets going as a scorer.
I’m also going with Jarrett Allen to have at least eight rebounds. I’m not sure what got into Allen in Game 7 against the Raptors, but he had 19 rebounds in 33 minutes in that decider. Allen was an absolute beast on the glass, and perhaps he’ll bring some of that same energy into this matchup with Jalen Duren. For what it’s worth, over the last 25 games, Allen has had at least eight rebounds on 17 occasions. He’s understanding the importance of doing Cleveland’s dirty work.
Bet: Mitchell Over 24.5 Points (-125)
Bet: Allen Over 7.5 Rebounds (-106)
Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8:30 pm ET
This is another game in which I don’t have a side or total. I just absolutely hate laying double digits, and doing so in the postseason isn’t too comforting. At the same time, I can’t quite get there with grabbing the Lakers against a Thunder team that is tremendous defensively.
The play I like in this game is for Rui Hachimura to score at least 12 points. While Oklahoma City can be impossible to score on, Hachimura has scored at least 12 points in 13 of the last 14 games. He has also gone Over this total in 11 consecutive contests. That includes six in a row against the Rockets in the opening round, and that means his streak carried over to a physical postseason series.
Hachimura also happened to go Over this total in three of his four games against the Thunder during the year. He’s just a big player with a good jumper, and he should get a decent share of looks in this game.
Bet: Hachimura Over 11.5 Points (-125)
Additional Plays
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