The NBA playoffs are always wild, wacky and filled with knife-cuttable drama. With players putting everything on the line in an attempt to bask in championship glory, the pressure-packed games are tremendously fun to wager on. As a result, the sportsbooks offer many creative ways to enhance the action. What are Brad’s favorite prop plays in Lakers vs. Nuggets on Monday? Check out his juicy SGP below.
The pick — SGP: Nuggets ML and Nikola Jokic 10+ rebounds, 1+ three (+115, BetMGM)
BetMGM offers:
Jokic’s brand of humor tickles this funny bone. It’s not slapstick. It’s not crass. It’s simply masterful trolling through a creative use of self-deprecation, even if it’s revealed later it was a promotion for a certain upcoming animated film.
The Gru-inspired getup worn by The Joker on Saturday while sauntering into Ball Arena was still a riot. Really, we’re all your minions, Mr. Supervillain — especially those on-court individuals draped in purple and gold.
On Monday night, Game 2 of Lakers vs. Nuggets has all the makings of a Denver victory for a 2-0 series lead. Including its 114-103 Game 1 win on Saturday, Michael Malone’s club boasts an unblemished 4-0 record against LeBron James and friends this season. Yep, untouched.
Considering the Nuggets’ elite net efficiency entering the playoffs (+5.5, No. 4 in the NBA), team-wide balance and championship pedigree, staving off the SoCal reps should be light work.
Defending the three-point line has been a bugaboo for Los Angeles. Entering the postseason, the Lakers ranked No. 3 in opponent made threes (14.3 per game). Jokic is hardly a high-volume shooter from outside, but in every clash with L.A. this year, he has nailed at least one of his signature over-the-head-top-of-the-key chucks. In Game 1, he was 1-for-3 from deep.
As for Jokic’s rebounds, another double-digit performance seems like a foregone conclusion. In the regular season, Darvin Ham’s crew ranked 12th in opponent boards per game (44.0). Including his 12 rebounds in Game 1, Jokic has achieved what’s needed in three of four showdowns against L.A. this season.
Life may be full of disappointments, Gru. But your not-so-evil twin is about to be anything but.
NBA postseason record: 4-4, +0.30 units