June 2nd NBA Props – Best Player Prop Bets for Wednesday Playoff Games

• Four NBA games are on the playoff schedule for Wednesday June 2nd
• Joel Embiid (knee) is doubtful for the Sixers, but plenty of other superstars are in action
• Read below for the latest NBA player props, betting analysis and picks

Wednesday night is packed with NBA playoffs action. Four games are on the schedule, with the Wizards and Sixers leading off. The eight versus one matchup is quickly followed by the Hawks and Knicks as Atlanta hope to wrap the series up in five games.

Utah is favored by 9.5 points over Memphis. The Jazz are one win away from the second round, but this has been a hard-fought series to date and we can expect another competitive game on Wednesday. Beautifully poised at 2-2, the Mavericks and Clippers return to California for Game 5. Luka Doncic is expected to play despite dealing with a neck issue.

June 2nd NBA Player Props

Odds as of June 2nd

Gafford Attacks

Daniel Gafford was promoted to the starting lineup in place of Alex Len for Game 4. Gafford went four-for-four from the field and got to the free throw line seven times. Finishing the game with 12 points, his impact was obvious, and the 26 minutes played was a series-high for the athletic Wizards big man.

I think the Wizards has found their starting Center for the future! This young man Gafford has great athleticism, great hands and he runs the floor like a deer! Carry on…

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 1, 2021

Scott Brooks has operated with a three-man center rotation over the last few months, but Gafford’s promotion saw Brooks switch to a straight up two-man center pairing of Gafford and Robin Lopez. Lopez’s array of hook shots saw him scored 16 points on 11 field goal attempts. If Lopez is less efficient, there’s likely more minutes available for Gafford, who is a more versatile defender and provides better spacing as a pick-and-roll partner for Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook.

So, Gafford is in line for considerable minutes. With Joel Embiid doubtful, he’s going to have plenty of opportunities to attack the rim. Doc Rivers will be forced to play a lot of minutes with Ben Simmons or Mike Scott at the five. The Sixers defense is nowhere near as formidable without Embiid’s presence in the paint, and when matched up with Dwight Howard, Gafford can expect to get plenty of free throw opportunities.

This is a reminder that Daniel Gafford’s first game as an NBA starter was in a playoff game win.

— Becca (@BeccaMVP) June 1, 2021

Since joining the Wizards, Gafford has played 20+ minutes on nine occasions. He’s scored 12 or more points in eight of those games. The points over is a great bet here.

• Pick: Daniel Gafford over 11.5 points (-110)

Thibs Leans on Rose

Just like Gafford, Derrick Rose has been put into the starting lineup. Rose has stepped up in a big way, scoring 48 points across his two games as a starter. Julius Randle’s struggles have been the headline for the Knicks in this series, but the contributions from the former MVP have kept New York competitive.

Derrick Rose will start at point guard for the Knicks tonight

It's his first start in a playoff game since 2015 🌹 pic.twitter.com/OpaPV4T9qD

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 28, 2021

Tom Thibodeau is yet to get Rose above the 40-minute mark. That could well change in a do-or-die Game 5. Averaging over 18 shot attempts per game, Thibodeau has handed the offense over to his veteran guard. Rose has rewarded his coach’s faith, sitting at 22.8 points and five assists per contest. He’s had opportunity to attack Trae Young off the bounce, and shot 50% from deep.

Rose is averaging almost 28 points and assists per game. He’s hit this over in only two of the last four games, but with Thibodeau likely to boost his minutes in possibly New York’s last game of the season, Rose will have ample opportunity to rack up numbers.

Derrick Rose starts the game dropping 11 of the Knicks first 19 points 🌹 pic.twitter.com/E9ej1hpl5a

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 28, 2021

The scoring is obviously the key for this prop, but with some better shooting from his teammates, the assists could easily get into the seven or eight range. Given the stakes, this feels like a big night for the former Bull.

• Pick: Derrick Rose over 25.5 points and assists (-108)