Best Bets on Today’s NBA Player Props Market
If you’re looking for some plays for the NBA Playoffs action on Wednesday, May 17th, we have you covered in every way possible. As always, we’ll have best bets to give you some ideas of what to back when it comes to moneylines, spreads and totals. However, we’re tackling player props here, and we’re targeting Jimmy Butler in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics tonight. Keep reading to find out how we’re betting on them. Also, check out our NBA Playoffs Hub for all of our postseason NBA content.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on May 17
Here are our favorite NBA prop bets for Wednesday, May 17:
Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (-8, 211) – Game 1
There weren’t many offensive explosions from Jimmy Butler in the series win over the New York Knicks, as he only reached the 28-point mark once. However, I’m expecting Butler to turn things up a notch in this series against the Celtics, and I think that starts with a big performance in Game 1.
Butler suffered a pretty significant ankle sprain against the Knicks, but he should be in much better shape for the Eastern Conference Finals. It has been five days since Miami last played a game, and you’d have to think that most of that time was devoted to getting Butler completely right. So, I’m looking for the superstar to be moving a lot better in this series, and that should allow him to dial things up a notch as a scorer. This is a guy that averaged 37.6 points per game against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. And the Heat are going to need that version of Butler against the Celtics.
Butler’s head-to-head matchup with Jayson Tatum will likely determine how this series goes. Tatum turned in some special performances to help Boston beat the Philadelphia 76ers last round, including a historic 51-point outing in Game 7. However, this is not a matchup that Butler will take lightly. He’s at his best when he’s going head to head with somebody and trying to prove he’s the true alpha. And I think we’re going to see Butler outperform Tatum in this series, even if Miami still loses.
With all of that said, I think Butler comes out with some serious urgency to start this series off. If Miami can steal one of the first two games in this series, going to the NBA Finals suddenly becomes a real possibility. Tyler Herro should be back at some point in this seven-game set, and that will even the playing field in a big way. With Butler knowing the importance of him playing well, it’s just hard to see him not attacking as a scorer here. Miami’s role players will also have a bit harder of a time getting going in a tough Boston environment. So, it’ll be up to Butler to lead by example and perform at a high level under difficult circumstances.
For what it’s worth, Butler also had four games in which he scored more than 28 points when these teams met in a seven-game series last year. That included a 35-point performance in a Game 7 loss in which his team scored only 96 points. In this matchup specifically, Miami leans on Butler as a scorer. And we’d advise betting on him to deliver, as he always does in the postseason.
Bet: Butler Over 27.5 Points (-130)
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