Best Bets on Today’s NBA Player Props Market
If you’re looking for some plays for the NBA Playoffs action on Tuesday, May 9th, 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 Tyrese Maxey and Kevin Durant 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 9
Here are our favorite NBA prop bets for Tuesday, May 9:
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (-7.5, 213.5) – Game 5
Tyrese Maxey has scored 14 or fewer points in each of his last three games, and he has only scored more than 19 points in one of the four games in this series. That makes it a little hard to believe that his point total is up at 18.5 for Game 5. Maxey did average 20.3 points per game during the regular season, but at what point should we adjust for what we’ve seen against this very opponent?
Maxey scored 26 points in the Game 1 victory in Boston, which is obviously very impressive. However, it’s not a coincidence that the 22-year-old has struggled since Game 2. That’s when Joel Embiid returned to the lineup, and there are only so many shots to go around in this offense. The Sixers run everything through the regular season MVP, and the rest of the opportunities tend to go to James Harden. So, it’s hard for Maxey to establish a rhythm — especially against a good defensive team.
Until we see Maxey shooting the ball more, it’s going to be hard to play the over on his point totals. He took 17 shots in Game 4 and that was the most attempts he has had in the last three games. It’ll likely take 20 field goal attempts for him to reach 19 points, and it’s hard to see him getting that here. The Celtics defense will likely be locked in after having let Game 4 slip away. And the point total for this game is very low.
Bet: Maxey Under 18.5 Points (-105)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets (-5.5, 228) – Game 5
In the two games the Suns have played without Chris Paul in this series, Kevin Durant is averaging 7.0 assists per game and had at least six assists in both. With that in mind, it’s hard not to like Durant to go over 5.5 assists in Game 5. Devin Booker has been the primary ball handler for the Suns with Paul out, but Durant is getting a good number of touches.
Considering the amount of attention Durant draws, there are generally open players when he has the basketball in his hands. Durant has also had the freedom to bring the ball up the floor when he pulls down rebounds. All these things bode well for his assist prospects heading into Game 5. But perhaps the most important thing working in Durant’s favor is that he’s playing with Booker right now. With the way Booker is shooting in this series, it’s easy for his teammates to rack up assists. Durant will have his opportunities to find Deandre Ayton and Jock Landale as roll men, or spot out shooters like Landry Shamet or Terrence Ross for open 3s. But he can also just get the ball to Booker in space and let the star go to work.
Bet: Durant Over 5.5 Assists (-140)
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