JutPicks
Show Bio
We have 3 games on tap in the NBA playoffs on Thursday night as the Magic, 76ers and Lakers all look to avoid dropping to 0-3 in their respective series. Let’s dive into my 3 best NBA player prop bets for Thursday, April 25, while you can also check out our NBA picks for all 3 of today’s matchups.
Tyrese Maxey, PHI, Over 26.5 points (-108)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
It’s desperate times in Philadelphia. The 76ers were up 4 points with 25 seconds left in Game 2… and then chaos erupted. They’re now down 2 games and are in must-win territory. Who better to lead the 76ers than Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey? Maxey is ultimately getting whatever he wants against the New York Knicks. He’s scored 33 and 35 points through 2 games while shooting over 50% from the field. But he hasn’t gotten the whistle that most were anticipating. He’s attempted just 8 free-throws combined — making all 8. Refs tend to swallow their whistle in the playoffs, especially in a physical series. But after some wrongdoing in Game 2, I’m looking at Maxey to get rewarded for his hard drives to the rim.
The Knicks have no problem letting Joel Embiid go one-on-one versus their big men. Nobody other than Maxey and Embiid has come close to stepping up. OG Anunoby hasn’t won the matchup on defense against Maxey, and I don’t see that changing in Game 3 in Philadelphia. Give me the over of 26.5 points, with the best price coming via DraftKings Sportsbook at -108.
Read our full New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers predictions
Austin Reaves, LAL, Over 13.5 points (-115)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Austin Reaves has been relatively quiet in the series’ first two games. He’s scored 13 and 9 points while attempting a combined 20 field-goal attempts. Much like Maxey, Reaves isn’t getting to the line like he’s accustomed to. Reaves averaged close to 3 free-throw attempts per game during the regular season. He’s attempted just 1 in this series.
Reaves is no stranger to the big moment. As we saw in Game 2 during the closing moments, Reaves took it upon himself to find a bucket. He went in isolation on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and scored to lift the Lakers to a 6-point lead with 3 minutes left — a lead they’d eventually give up. But at home, where Reaves shoots the ball at a much better clip, especially behind the arc, I look for the undrafted pro to bring some life on offense.
Read our full Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers predictions
