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 is Brad’s favorite prop play in Pacers vs. Bucks on Tuesday? Check out his juicy SGP below.
The pick — SGP: Tyrese Haliburton 5+ rebounds, 8+ assists at Bucks (+100, BetMGM)
BetMGM offers:
In the opening stanza of their first-round playoff, the Bucks, even without megastar Giannis Antetokounmpo, slapped the Pacers squarely and painfully across the face. Damian Lillard’s molten-hot first half, in which he drained six threes and scored 35 points, swiftly sank an Indiana team that, in a line shift just the day before, entered as the slight favorite (at -115) to take the series.
A five-fingered paw print may still adorn their faces, but, unless Dame time again chimes, the Pacers should shake off the sting and be far more competitive in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Whether emphasizing fast-break points, three-point chucks or flexes around the cup, do-it-all guard Tyrese Haliburton operates as Indiana’s centerpiece. With a bright white orchestral baton in hand, he directs the Pacers offense, usually in grand style. He only chipped in nine points in Sunday’s 109-94 defeat, but he grabbed seven rebounds and dished out eight assists. In fact, in six total matchups against Milwaukee this season, Haliburton has reached the above requirements four times, averaging 6.0 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game.
Candidly, it’s not a lights-out matchup on paper. With Giannis on the floor in 73 of 82 games, the Bucks finished the regular season allowing the 18th-fewest rebounds per game (44.0) and 13th-fewest assists per game (26.5). However, without him, they possess visible vulnerabilities, particular on the glass.
Given Haliburton’s dirty-nose willingness, off-the-bounce creativity and general indispensability in Rick Carlisle’s offense, he should spark an Indiana bounce back and cash in at plus money.
NBA postseason record: 5-4, +1.45 units