Wednesday's Houston Rockets.
Here are six expert player prop picks for your consideration, including an OVER on a 3-pointers made prop for Celtics backup guard Payton Pritchard (-114) at the TD Garden on April 23.
Payton Pritchard OVER 2.5 Made 3-Pointers vs. Magic (-114 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. ET
The newly-crowned recipient of the Sixth Man of the Year award could be in store for a larger role in Game 2 with superstar forward Jayson Tatum listed as doubtful due to a wrist injury. In 10 games without Tatum during the regular season, Prtichard averaged 19 points, 5.3 rebounds, and five assists per game.
Most importantly, though, as it pertains to Wednesday's 2.5 made 3-pointers prop, Pritchard connected on three or more triples in six of those contests, even making as many as 10 in a matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers back in March. Now a pair of those UNDERs did come versus the Magic, but both games were at the Kia Center and not in Beantown which is where Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is taking place. The third of four UNDERs was also on the road, as well.
Pritchard finished Game 1 with four makes from distance on six attempts in 25 minutes. Tatum ed 17 points on 22 shot attempts in 40 minutes, and with that offense needing to be ed for, Pritchard could be the one to see his numbers get a notable boost.
Wendell Carter Jr. OVER 8.5 Rebounds vs. Celtics (+104 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. ET
The Magic's offense in Game 1 came down to whatever Paolo Banchero (36 points) and Franz Wagner (23 points) could provide, as they ed for over two-thirds of the team's total points with no one else on the roster scoring in the double digits. That's long been an issue for Orlando not knowing who the third option will be most nights, so for the time being, we'll be avoiding scoring props for the rest of the roster until someone consistently demonstrates they can be that player.
Wendell Carter Jr's six shot attempts were actually the third-most on the Magic over the weekend, but his number which stood out the most was his 13 rebounds in 28 minutes to lead his team. It was the first time he had managed to grab 10 or more rebounds in a game against the reigning champions in 2024-25, and his first line with double-digit boards since March 25.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley went 10 deep in Game 1, but Jonathan Isaac was the only backup big who saw any substantial time at 18 minutes. Carter Jr's role isn't in jeopardy, and he was far and away Orlando's biggest rebounding threat in the opener. At plus money, knowing he only needs nine boards at the very least, you can't go wrong.
Davion Mitchell OVER 17.5 Points + Assists vs. Cavaliers (-122 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Don't let the fact that Davion Mitchell is coming off the bench deter you from placing a bet on his props. He played nearly as many minutes (34) in Game 1 against the Cavaliers as Heat starters Alec Burks and rookie Kel'el Ware did combined (35). He's the truest thing coach Erik Spoelstra has to a point guard on the depth chart, and is arguably Miami's best perimeter defender, as well.
Mitchell ed a near double-double of 18 points and nine assists on Sunday, with his scoring alone being enough to notch an OVER in this combined prop on Wednesday. He also went OVER this number in each of the Heat's two play-in tournament games (24 and 21, respectively), and has exceeded this mark in 11 of his last 15 appearances.
The tandem of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell shot a combined 2-of-7 when defended by Mitchell in Game 1, so for his defense alone, the 26-year-old will continue to be a mainstay of the rotation with tremendous upside as both a scorer and facilitator to top it all off.
Ty Jerome OVER 11.5 Points vs. Heat (+100 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Ty Jerome's scoring prop is further evidence of why it's so important to check multiple sportsbooks ahead of placing a wager to see where you can get the most bang for your buckk. As of early Wednesday morning, both FanDuel and BetMGM had Jerome's point line at 11.5, but the former only offered up -125 value as opposed to the latter being at plus money.
Coach Kenny Atkinson gave his core four of Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen over 30 minutes each in Game 1, and while Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points, Jerome was a close second off the pine with 28 on 10-of-15 shooting and five makes from 3-point range. He's gone OVER 11.5 points all four times he's battled Miami this season and has also done so in 12 of his last 15 appearances while scoring 20 or more points in four of his last five games.
With that kind of consistency and the prop being as low as it is at 11.5, getting this at +100 is an absolute steal. We'll see soon enough if Jerome's playing time maintains if Game 2 is tighter on the scoreboard, but with the way he's producing, there's no reason for Atkinson to forget about him.
Fred VanVleet OVER 13.5 Points vs. Warriors (-128 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. ET
With the exception of perhaps All-Star center Alperen Sengun, no one on the Rockets looked particularly strong in Game 1 offensively, with the team shooting just 39.1 percent from the field and 20 percent from the perimeter in a 10-point loss at the Toyota Center. Fred VanVleet was the most disappointing of all, missing 11 of his 13 tries from 3-point range to finish with only 10 points in 40 minutes.
He took the most shots for Houston both from the field and from distance, despite his efficiency being in the tank. If only a couple more shots fall through the mesh, then VanVleet easily exceeds 13.5 points. Now keep in mind that he's gone UNDER that number in each of his last eight looks at the Warriors, but all of those were regular season games and this is obviously the postseason. The 31-year-old floor general has the most playoff experience on the Rockets, having won a title with the Toronto Raptors back in 2019.
His high output in Game 1 provides enough optimism that he'll connect here, and the -128 value goes to show that oddsmakers feel the same way.
Draymond Green To Record 2+ Steals vs. Rockets (+126 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. ET
This is a rare defensive player prop we make here at Odds Shark, but it's for good reason. Even the most elite defenders in basketball don't always tally steals and blocks on a consistent basis, and it's certainly not as straightforward to achieve numbers on the box score in those categories as points, rebounds, and assists. So what's the difference here projecting Draymond Green to steal the rock twice from Houston in Game 2?
Well, for starters, he just had three in Game 1 across 37 minutes as the Rockets turned the rock over 17 times. Green has picked up two steals in three of his last four meetings with Houston dating back to Dec. 11, 2024, and has picked up at least three steals in three of his last four games.
The Rockets appeared rattled in the opener, even on their home floor. Green exploits those types of mental lapses frequently, so you know he's going to continue getting in the grill of the young Houston wings like Amen Thompson and Jalen Green and force them into making plays they may not want to make. We could have gone one higher and bet on three steals for the potential Defensive Player of the Year, but two is still worthwhile at +126 and a touch safer.
