NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets (April 18): Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Kevin Durant

With the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic taking care of business Friday night in the final play-in games, the field is set for the first round of the NBA playoffs. Saturday’s slate includes many of the best players in the league, which should make for a fun day to bet on NBA playoff player props.

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

One of the many things that make betting on player props so great is, of course, the extensive menus sportsbooks often carry for games, especially postseason ones. So, if you don’t like my picks, that’s okay (I’ll cry later). There are more than enough to choose from for each game on the schedule.

If you're looking for more NBA and sports betting promotions, we have gathered a list of the best sports betting offers here.

NBA Playoffs Best Bets & Odds for April 18 (FanDuel)

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Moneyline: Rockets -205 | Lakers +172
• Spread: Rockets -5 (-108) | Lakers +5 (+112)
• Total: Over 208.5 (-110) | Under 208.5 (-110)

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

• Moneyline: Timberwolves +240 | Nuggets -295
• Spread: Timberwolves +7 (-110) | Nuggets -7 (-110)
• Total: Over 232.5 (-108) | Under 232.5 (-112)

Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks

• Moneyline: Hawks +200 | Knicks -245
• Spread: Hawks +5.5 (-108) | Knicks -5.5 (-112)
• Total: Over 217.5 (-112) | Under 217.5 (-108)

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

• Nikola Jokić, OVER 51.5 Pts + Reb + Ast: -118 (FanDuel)

Denver had the highest scoring offense in the NBA during the regular season, in large part due to the play of the team’s perennial NBA MVP contender, Nikola Jokić. Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. In four games against Minnesota, he averaged 35.8 points, 15 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game.

Against the Timberwolves, Jokić went over this total in three of four games, missing the over in the outlier by a single basket (27 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists on Nov. 11). In the Christmas Day game, he covered the over with points alone (56). Jokić missed this mark in his last two games, but didn’t play long in either. In the previous 13 games, he went over this total in eight.

Minnesota can play decent defense, but it hasn't proven it can slow Jokić down.

If the high number makes you nervous or you don’t like the price, consider taking Jokić to record a triple-double at -105.

Hawks vs. Knicks

• Karl-Anthony Towns, OVER 32.5 Pts + Reb: -112 (FanDuel)

I was initially a little concerned about the over for this prop because Towns finished under it in four of his last five games and in 41 of 75 games played this season. However, he went over it in both regular-season games against the Hawks (21 points and 12 rebounds, April 6; 36 points and 15 rebounds, December 27), and in six of his last seven against Atlanta.

But the Hawks don’t have a frontcourt capable of containing or even slowing Towns down for an entire game. However, the problem with taking the over is trusting Towns to score enough. He hasn’t been the most consistent player on the scoreboard; he scored less than 21 points in 39 of 75 games this season. He is, however, a pretty reliable rebounder (12+ in 41 of 75 games, and in 14 of his last 20).

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Rockets vs. Lakers

• Kevin Durant, OVER 24.5 Points: -104 (FanDuel)

Durant is listed as a game-time decision, questionable with a right knee contusion. But with the Lakers missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves still, the Rockets have to strike while they are still down. To that end, they need their superstars on the court, taking control of a winnable game, and bringing home a W.

They don’t want to leave a window open for Los Angeles if the Lakers get Dončić and Reaves back sooner rather than later. That means Kevin Durant needs to play; I expect he will as long as the team needs him to. KD averaged 26 points per game this season, went over 24.5 in ten of his last 15 games, but finished under it in three of four games vs. the Lakers this season.

However, while the Lakers' defense looked respectable after losing Dončić, it benefited from playing a weak schedule with several teams out of playoff contention with nothing to play for. Not counting the play-in teams (Golden State and Phoenix), the Lakers faced one playoff contender in that stretch at the end of the season, Oklahoma City.

The Rockets don’t exactly compare to the Thunder, but OKC scored 139 and 123 points. If KD plays, he’ll score 25+ points against LeBron James and the Lakers.