Only two spots remain before the NBA Playoffs begin this weekend. The Friday, April 19 slate features the Chicago Bulls heading south to face the Miami Heat. The nightcap features the Sacramento Kings heading east to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
The strong run to close out the regular season for my prop bet predictions continued into the postseason. Through the first four play-in games, I’ve hit on 63% of my picks.
Let’s continue that streak today with the four best NBA player prop bets for Friday’s final play-in games. Best of luck!
Live player props data coming soon for Coby White.
Chicago Bulls’ Coby White OVER 4.5 Assists
The Bulls trounced the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday as point guard Coby White exploded for 42 points in the 131-116 victory. White finished the game with nine rebounds and six assists, playing in 43 minutes for Chicago. With their season on the line Friday night, the Bulls will again look to White to defeat Miami.
White has averaged 20.5 points per game this season against the Heat, but he’s averaging 6.0 assists in their contests this season. While that’s mostly inflated due to an 11-assist game, the point guard has exceeded five assists in three of their four matchups.
Expect White to continue to exceed his assist season average against the Heat in tonight’s contest. Let's play the Over!
Live player props data coming soon for Domantas Sabonis.
Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis UNDER 14.5 Rebounds
The Kings finally exorcised their demons from last year’s playoff appearance, knocking off Golden State in the play-in game 118-94 Tuesday. While Keegan Murray led all scorers, Sacramento’s inside presence – center Damontas Sabonis – was his usual double-double self with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Sabonis was the leading rebounder this year in the NBA, averaging 13.7 boards per outing. Yet the New Orleans Pelicans gave Sabonis fits this season.
In five games, New Orleans held Sabonis under 14.5 rebounds every time, giving bettors confidence that the 6’10” will be held below that figure again tonight to keep him from covering this player prop bet.
Live player props data coming soon for Bam Adebayo.
Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo OVER 37.5 Pts + Reb + Ast
Not only did Miami lose to the 76ers Wednesday in Philadelphia, but the Heat also lost Jimmy Butler as he suffered an MCL sprain. Defensively, Bam Adebayo drew a tough assignment as he held former MVP Joel Embiid to just 23 points on the night, a figure more than 10 points below his season average.
Now, the 26-year-old center will be one of the focal points offensively with Butler out for the foreseeable future. Against Chicago this season, Adebayo is averaging 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.
Those figures easily top his player combo prop bet mark for Friday’s play-in contest. Expect without Butler he’ll exceed the 37.5 combo mark again.
Live player props data coming soon for Jonas Valanciunas.
New Orleans Pelicans’ Jonas Valanciunas OVER 11.5 Points
The Pelicans lost more than a play-in game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans also lost Zion Williamson for the next two weeks after the forward pulled his hamstring in the team’s 110-106 loss. Without Williamson, the Pelicans will need another starter to step into that offensive role.
Enter center Jonas Valanciunas. In five games against Sacramento this season, the 6’ 11” athlete averaged 14.2 points and 11.4 rebounds in nearly 27 minutes per outing.
With the offense needing a hand, expect the Pelicans to turn to Valanciunas both offensively and defensively against the Kings as the former lottery pick exceeds this player prop bet.
