NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets (April 19): Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham

Three NBA Playoff games are in action this late afternoon and evening as the hoops get serious in round one. Both No. 1 seeds are on the court today as heavy favorites.

Which top seed is susceptible to being upset by a No. 8 seed team? Will Victor Wembanyama keep making history in his first postseason? How far can the San Antonio Spurs go?

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

In this betting guide for playoff basketball, I consult odds from Bet365 and BetMGM sports betting sites. Those apps are available in dozens of states across this basketball-crazy country. Check your favorite NBA betting sites for the odds that match your strategy.

Here's the full Sunday schedule:

• (7) Philadelphia 76ers at (2) Boston Celtics, Game One, 1 PM ET
• (8) Phoenix Suns at (1) Oklahoma City Thunder, Game One, 3:30 PM ET
• (8) Orlando Magic at (1) Detroit Pistons, Game One, 6:30 PM ET
• (7) Portland Trail Blazers at (2) San Antonio Spurs, Game One, 9 PM ET

NBA Playoffs Player Prop Bets: Wemby Prop Bets for Spurs vs Trail Blazers

The best player on the planet begins his playoff journey tonight when the Spurs host the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their first round series.

Oddsmakers price the Spurs as 11-point favorites. I like the Trail Blazers to beat that spread, but this article is about NBA Player Props.

Wemby will make a statement in his first primetime appearance as a playoff star. The man with the amazing wingspan will change the way Portland attacks the basket.

• Victor Wembanyama To Record 16+ Rebounds (+330 from Bet365)

I love these odds. Wemby had at least 16 rebounds in each of the final three games of the regular season that he played significant minutes in. When he needs to carry this team, when he is playing at Full Wemby Strength, we see amazing things. I expect a double-double from Wemby (most sportsbooks are not even offering odds on it), with oodles of boards on his stat sheet.

NBA Playoffs Bet: Pistons vs. Magic Three-Leg Parlay

Detroit hopes to commence the third era of championships in franchise history. More than 30 years ago, the Bad Boys dominated the NBA with back-to-back titles. About two decades ago, the "Go To Work" Pistons thrashed the Lakers in the NBA Finals, and played again for the title the following year, making the conference finals five straight years.

The face of this team is Cade Cunningham, a slashing guard who plays with a motor that never seems to run out of fuel. Appropriate for a Detroit superstar.

The rest of the Pistons play in the mode of previous Detroit dynasties: tough and defensive-minded. Detroit was third in the NBA in fewest points allowed, and led the league in defending the 3-pointer. And if that weren't enough the Pistons led the NBA in blocks and steals.

Which is to say: the Orlando Magic have their hands full. In two wins over Orlando this season, Detroit had a 16.5 point margin. In the one loss that came in a game where load management wasn't a factor, the Magic defeated the Pistons by three points in Detroit.

This series may be five or six games long: the Pistons are still a young team. But, we know Detroit can control the defensive pressure, and should limit 3-point success.

This three-leg parlay has odds from Bet365:

• Cade Cunningham To Score 15+ Points
• Cade Cunningham To Record a Double-Double
• Jalen Duren Over 30.5 Points + Rebounds

Odds are +204 on this Same Game NBA Playoff Parlay. Make a $100 bet, win, and get $204 plus your stake.

SGA Prop Bet for Game One of Western Conference Playoff Series vs. Suns

The Suns will be setting very quickly in the West this playoff season. The OKC Thunder had basketball's best record, and now the real test begins: defending their first NBA title.

This series should be a quick one, led by NBA Most Valuable Player candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Tonight with the blue-out at the Paycom Center, you should see plenty of happy fans wearing free t-shirts.

SGA has averaged 3.1 points per game the last two postseasons. He was named NBA Finals MVP last year. That time, the Thunder went 12-4 in the first three rounds, pummeling opponents. I expect nothing will change now that 27-year old SGA has a title and that experience.

The Thunder were 3-2 against Phoenix this season, but one of those losses came last week when OKC played its scrubs in a meaningless contest.

On paper, the Suns and Thunder should match up well. The Suns team stats are not that much different: both are about the same in 3-point shooting, rebounding, and assists. But, OKC has more steals, and scores about 8 points more per game. When it comes to executing its offense and shutting down the opponent on defense, the Thunder are elite, and the Suns are so-so.

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With the full force of the Thunder's deep nine-man rotation unleashed, the Suns will be overwhelmed. They can only hope to be whelmed. But, OKC is simply too talented, and too athletic.

SGA was out of the lineup twice in Thunder games vs the Suns. He only played 98 minutes and posted just three steals against Phoenix this season. On Sunday, he will be at full strength and set loose to haunt the Suns on both ends of the court in downtown OKC. Expect a big game.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Score 30+ points (-125 from BetMGM)

SGA had 15 30-point games last postseason. He put up seven of those big scoring games in the first two rounds.

Here's another SGA player prop for PHO/OKC:

• First Player To Record a Steal: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+725 from BetMGM)

A $10 winning bet would net $72.50, or go $5 and win $36.25, enough to grab brunch at even a nice breakfast place.