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May 22nd NBA Props – Player Props and Best Bets for Saturday’s Four Playoff Games

Sam Cox

by Sam Cox in NBA Basketball

Updated May 22, 2021 · 6:46 AM PDT

Damian Lillard layup
Injuries to key Denver personnel will make it hard for the Nuggets to contain Portland's Damian Lillard. (Photo by PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
  • The first round of the NBA Playoffs gets underway on May 22nd
  • Four games are on the Saturday schedule, starting with the Miami Heat against the Milwaukee Bucks
  • Read below to see what player props represent the best betting value

After a dramatic few days of Play-In action, the NBA Playoffs finally start on Saturday May 22nd. Miami and Milwaukee begin their rematch in the early tip-off with Giannis Antetokounmpo and co under pressure to perform in the playoffs. Miami is five-point underdogs for the game, though many expect them to take the series deep.

Another rematch from the bubble, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers reunite after a tense first round series in Orlando. The Clips are unsurprisingly favored by a few points, but they are well-aware of the threat posed by Luka Doncic.

Brooklyn and Boston has the biggest spread of the night. The Nets are expected to cruise past Brad Stevens’ team with Jaylen Brown sidelined. It’s off to Denver to wrap up Saturday’s NBA Playoffs action as the soon-to-be MVP Nikola Jokic takes on Damian Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers.

Let’s run down the player props available Saturday, odds courtesy of FanDuel.

NBA Player Props – May 22nd

MIA vs MIL Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Jimmy Butler (MIA) 24.5 (O -102 | U -120) 7.5 (O -132 | U +108) 7.5 (O +114 | U -140) 0.5 (O -115 | U -111)
Bam Adebayo (MIA) 18.5 (O -108 | U -114) 9.5 (O -118 | U -104) 5.5 (O -110 | U -112) OFF
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 29.5 (O -114 | U -108) 11.5 (O -134 | U +110) 5.5 (O -118 | U -104) 1.5 (O +140 | U -180)
Khris Middleton (MIL) 20.5 (O -118 | U -104) 5.5 (O -108 | U -112) 5.5 (O +114 | U -140) 2.5 (O -118 | U -108)
DAL vs LAC Points Rebobnds Assists Three Pointers Made
Luka Doncic (DAL) 27.5 (O -116 | U -106) 7.5 (O -115 | U -105) 8.5 (O -132 | U +108) 2.5 (O -150 | U +118)
Kristaps Porzingis (DAL) 21.5 (O -118 | U -104) 8.5 (O -112 | U -110) OFF 2.5 (O +130 | U -166)
Kawhi Leonard (LAC) 26.5 (O -114 | U -108) 7.5 (O +108 | U -132) 4.5 (O -152 | U +124) 1.5 (O -174 | U +136)
Paul George (LAC) 25.5 (O -104 | U -118) 6.5 (O -140 | U +114) 4.5 (O +116 | U -142) 3.5 (O +120 | U -154)
BOS vs BKN Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Jayson Tatum (BOS) 30.5 (O -114 | U -108) 8.5 (O +100 | U -122) 3.5 (O -144 | U +118) 3.5 (O +102 | U -130)
Kemba Walker (BOS) 23.5 (O -120 | U -102) 4.5 (O +100 | U -122) 4.5 (O -132 | U +108) 3.5 (O -150 | U +118)
Kevin Durant (BKN) 25.5 (O -106 | U -116) 7.5 (O -114 | U -106) 4.5 (O -106 | U -114) 2.5 (O +130 | U -166)
Kyrie Irving (BKN) 23.5 (O -110 | U -110) 5.5 (O +120 | U -148) 4.5 (O +128 | U -158) 2.5 (O -108 | U -118)
POR vs DEN Points Rebounds Assists Three Pointers Made
Dame Lillard (POR) 28.5 (O -116 | U -106) 4.5 (O -105 | U -115) 7.5 (O +110 | U -134) 3.5 (O -142 | U +112)
CJ McCollum (POR) 22.5 (O -108 | U -114) 4.5 (O +122 | U -150) 4.5 (O +108 | U -132) 2.5 (O -172 | U +134)
Nikola Jokic (DEN) 28.5 (O -116 | U -106) 11.5 (O -106 | U -114) 8.5 (O +104 | U -128) 1.5 (O +144 | U -186)
Michael Porter Jr (DEN) 23.5 (O -116 | U -106) 7.5 (O -122 | U +100) OFF 3.5 (O +102 | U -130)

Odds as of May 22

Kyrie’s Revenge

In Brooklyn’s three wins over Boston in the regular season, Kyrie Irving had a 37 and 40-point game. He traditionally thrives against his former teams, enjoying two massive games against the Cavs, too. This is a series to remind the Celtics what they are missing out on.

Irving is also going to benefit most from Jaylen Brown’s absence. The obvious matchups are Jayson Tatum on Kevin Durant and Marcus Smart on James Harden. Those head-to-heads might have been different with Brown available, but Irving is going to get ample opportunity to attack Kemba Walker and Boston’s backup guards. It’s hard to see Evan Fournier slowing down the 2016 NBA champion.

The seven-time All-Star is coming off one of the quieter 50-40-90 seasons. Irving was surprisingly the most available of Brooklyn’s big three throughout the season, and he often put the team on his back. He will revert to more of an off-ball role for the playoffs with Harden back in action, but he should have plenty of opportunity to run point as they ease Harden back.

In his last five games playing 30 or more minutes, Irving has scored 24 or more points on four occasions. The presence of Harden and Durant lessens his shot quantity, but there will be plenty of good looks with so much defensive attention on the former MVPs. Irving is a great bet to hit his points over.

Pick: Kyrie Irving over 23.5 points (-110)

Denver’s Perimeter Problems

The Nuggets have improved defensively. Much of that is down to the elite talents of Aaron Gordon, who was brought in as one of the league’s premier wing stoppers. This isn’t the ideal matchup for Gordon and the Nuggets, however.

While the former Magic forward will still be impactful on the defensive end, he’s not the ideal matchup for CJ McCollum or Damian Lillard. Where Denver’s frontcourt can compensate for the absences of Will Barton and Jamal Murray on offense, the defense is less secure. Being without Murray and Barton makes Lillard and McCollum all the more dangerous. An enormous amount is suddenly being asked of Facundo Campazzo.

Portland was the best offense in the NBA over the last 15 regular season games. Damian Lillard was at 66.1% true shooting over that span, while scoring 29.1 points per game and dishing over seven assists per contest.

Denver might have struggled to keep Lillard quiet even if Murray and Barton were healthy. Without them, though, they risk being blown away by Portland’s All-NBA superstar. Lillard’s points and assists line is set at 36.5, which seems low. Trap the pick-and-roll, and they have the shooting to make you pay, which will result in more Lillard assists. Let him go one-on-one with their guards, and he’s going to score plenty.

This is set to be an epic playoff series, and it’s one Lillard should thrive in.

Pick: Damian Lillard over 36.5 points and assists (-106)

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