
The NBA playoffs continue, and there are two matchups on the slate today!
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Featuring two game fives, the Golden State Warriors lead the Houston Rockets 3-1 in the series. In the end, it was an ailing Jimmy Butler who sunk free-throws to put the Warriors on top in game four, 109-106.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves hold a 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. Thanks to Anthony Edwards' 43 points, the Timberwolves survived 116-113 in game four. Will the Lakers get off life support and get a game back at home tonight?
Are you looking to bet on NBA player props all playoffs long? Here at Ballislife Bets, we've gathered a complete list of the best sports betting offers here.
TEAM VS TEAM | MONEYLINE | SPREAD | TOTALS |
---|---|---|---|
Warriors vs Rockets | +140 / -170 | +3.5 / -3.5 | O/U 203.5 |
Timberwolves vs Lakers | +190 / -235 | +5.5 / -5.5 | O/U 209.5 |
If you're looking to bet on the NBA playoffs, welcome! The early evening matchup between the Warriors and Rockets will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The late night showdown featuring the Timberwolves and Lakers will begin at 10 p.m. ET. It's important to note, both outings will air on TNT.
It's the last day of April, let's finish out the month strong! I am up nearly 12 units betting on NBA player props this month, so let's cash out today!
Below are my three best bets and predictions for the April 30 NBA playoff matchups! I've placed all within FanDuel Sportsbook, each as separate wagers.
PPG: 18.3 | FG: 54.5 % | FT: 85 % | 3PT : 50 % | REB: 4.7 | AST: 4.0 | STL: 1.5 | BLK: 0.3
My first best bet for today, I placed one unit on Warriors star Jimmy Butler to score over 19.5 points today.
I know Butler is ailing and returned to game four with a pelvis injury. However, that didn't stop him from exploding for 27 points in 40 minutes!
As a lifelong Celtics fan, I've had to endure several years of "playoff Jimmy." For those that don't believe, just watch. While Butler is a talented two-way player, he's always known to step it up in the playoffs.
Up 3-1, the Warriors get game five matchup against the Rockets on the road. It will certainly be a tough task for the Warriors, however, Butler is Golden State's second leading scorer in the playoffs with 18.3 points per game.
Not to mention, he's coming off a full 40 minutes, and is averaging 11 field goal attempts per game. No one has gotten to the charity stripe on the Warriors more than Butler, who's averaging 6.7 field goal attempts per game.
We all know how aggressive Butler was last game, hitting crucial late game free-throws. Speaking of free-throws, Butler was 12-12 from the charity stripe! In addition, he finished 7-12 from the field (58.3 %), and 1-2 from downtown (50 %).
Overall, this prop seems a tad low, considering Butler has has recorded 25+ points in four of the last five games down the stretch and into the playoffs. With an average of 24.2 points during that span, that number would've been higher if Butler didn't sustain an injury in game two.
Aside from getting injured and playing just eight minutes in game two, no one on Houston has had answers for Butler. Pouring in 25 and 27 points in game one and four, Butler shot 17-31 (54 %) in those outings including 16-18 (89 %) from the free-throw line.
Scoring 55 points in 90 minutes in three playoff games, Butler accounts for 18 percent of the Warriors offense. Not to mention, the matchup against Dillon Brooks should be a movie tonight.
Since the Warriors play a smaller lineup, the Rockets give up over 21 points to forwards. I'm confident in this play, especially since Butler has scored 24+ points in six of the last seven games (25 PPG).
Through three games, Butler has a 22.4 usage percentage, although that was slightly flawed in game two.
Averaging 8.7 points in the paint, Butler is one of the most fierce in attacking downhill despite the Rockets allowing the least amount of paint points in the NBA playoffs (33.5).
PPG: 26.3 | FG: 50.7 % | FT: 82.4 % | 3PT : 39.1 % | REB: 9.5 | AST: 5.5 | STL: 2.0 | BLK: 2.3
My second best bet is a bit corporate, but I have to go with my gut. I placed one unit on LeBron James to record over 25.5 points today.
Luka Doncic points prop line is extremely elevated, so I'm going with the King tonight. Down 3-1, what better situation for the LeBron, who has a home matchup tonight against the Timberwolves?
Averaging 26.3 points in four playoff games, we saw LeBron put up 38 points and carried the Lakers in game three while Doncic was ailing from a stomach bug.
In reality, the Lakers have a ton of pieces, however, the majority of the scoring has come down to James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
At 40 years old, James is beating the allegations of father time, coming off 46 minutes, and an average of 40.8 in the series. Falling just short, James will need to shoot more than nine field goal attempts today. Although, James did finish 15-18 from the line in game four.
Overall, James has been the Lakers second leading scorer through the playoffs, and second in minutes. Averaging a second best 16.8 field goal attempts on the squad, James has averaged 8.5 trips to the charity stripe alone!
The reason why I love this prop is after Doncic, James, Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, the offensive production drops drastically. Scoring 105 points and playing 163 total minutes, LeBron has accounted for nearly 26 percent of the Lakers offense.
LeBron James has been around for quite some time, and is not new to this situation. Averaging 33.8 points in 28 career-playoff elimination games, I don't expect James to come off the floor tonight.
With 65 combined points over the late two matchups with the Timberwolves, James has a solid 25.5 percent usage rate in the playoffs for coach JJ Redick.
There wasn't many times James averaged 38 minutes per game in the regular season. However, when he has, LeBron soared over this player prop line in six of ten games, averaging 29 points per game.
PPG: 13.8 | FG: 55.9 % | FT: 66.7 % | 3PT : 52.4 % | REB: 4.3 | AST: 1.3 | STL: o.8 | BLK: 0.5
My third and favorite best bet for tonight, I placed one unit on Timberwolves center Naz Reid to record over 1.5 made threes against the Lakers.
Naz Reid has emerged as one of the crucial x-factors for this Timberwolves team coach Chris Finch has found faith in him.
It was Reid who sunk a 3-pointer to put the Timberwolves up late in the fourth quarter, and he always comes in clutch with the deep ball. Having outscored the the Lakers bench himself 13.8 to 7.4, this is a strong play today.
He's been clutch in the fourth quarter, shooting over 52 percent from beyond the arc in the series! If Julius Randle or Anthony Edwards is doubled, Reid has been destined to knock down big time open shots.
Third on the Timberwolves with 5.3 3-point attempts, Reid has become a serious sniper for Minnesota. Even at his size, Reid often plays similar to a guard. His fast ability to get open around the perimeter amazes me.
An important piece of the bench, Reid is averaging 24.8 points, which is ample amount of time to sink this player prop bet. In addition, he's averaging 2.8 3-pointers made in the series.
Overall, the Lakers have had trouble keeping the Timberwolves off the 3-point line. With Minnesota shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, Reid alone has had nine attempts in games three and four.
Soaring over this line in three of the four games with the Lakers, I'm not fading this prop tonight. As well as Reid has shot the rock from beyond the arc, he has not shot under 33.3 percent from three all series.
With Rudy Gobert taking a back seat offensively (3.5 PPG), expect Reid to easily clear this line. Reid is a flame thrower, recording 11 trey balls in the last four outings against the Lakers.
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