The NBA playoffs are always wild, wacky and filled with knife-thick 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 play for Game 1 of Mavericks vs. Thunder? Check out his lean below.
The pick — Luka Doncic UNDER 9.5 assists vs. Thunder (+114, DraftKings)
What a pro wants. What a pro needs. What a viewer pleads when the endlessly played commercial seizes the screen.
Since the NCAA Tournament, the ear assault committed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren has been torturous, to say the least. Thunder duo, want to repay us for your auditory crimes? Lock down defensively against “The Don,” and all will be forgiven.
When it comes to defense, Oklahoma City has stood tall. This postseason, it has surrendered only 0.935 points per possession, tops among playoff teams. Expanding the parameters further, the Thunder are No. 3 among all NBA squads in effective field-goal percentage defense at home this season. With Game 1 taking place at Paycom Center, odds are significant OCK once again walls up.
In two regular-season entanglements with Mark Daigneault’s club, Doncic dished out 18 and nine assists. Riding a three-game OVER streak on the proposed prop, it explains why a plus number is attached. Still, if recency bias isn’t injected into the veins, fading Luka could lead to a lavish result.
The Thunder clamped down on New Orleans in their opening-round series. If that defensive effort carries over, they will hold Doncic somewhat in check. Recall, they’ve only given up 19.5 assists per game this postseason.
You owe us, SGA and Chet.
NBA postseason record: 7-15, -6.87 units
BONUS TIME — Darius Garland 2+ steals at Celtics (+200, DraftKings)