The NBA Playoffs will resume with an excellent three-game slate on Friday, April 24 — and we have you covered with player prop predictions for all three of today's postseason contests.
Our NBA props for Thursday are targeting Paul George, Amen Thompson and more. Continue below for our top NBA player prop picks for today's playoff games.
NBA Player Props for Friday, April 24
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
| 10:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Celtics vs 76ers
Paul George Under 17.5 points (-106)
The Philadelphia 76ers are even with the Boston Celtics after securing a win in Game 2 of their first-round series, and their young core seems poised to take over the team moving forward.
Tyrese Maxey has blossomed into the 76ers' top option, and it appears that a rookie has jumped ahead of Paul George in the pecking order.
Baylor product V.J. Edgecombe only trails Maxey in points per game (21.5) among Philadelphia's players so far this postseason. The first-year wing is shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from deep, making George more of a tertiary option.
George is averaging 18.0 points per game on solid shooting splits this postseason, but ranks fourth in field goal attempts so far. He's putting up 10.5 shots per game, while Kelly Oubre is posting 12.
George averaged 14.5 points per game against the league's best scoring defense during the regular season, so it won't be surprising to see him fall short of his regular-season average (17.3) on Friday. Especially in the role he's playing right now.
Pick: Paul George Under 17.5 Points (-106)
Lakers vs Rockets
Amen Thompson Over 5.5 Assists (-125)
The Houston Rockets are down 0-2 in their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers and need to bounce back in a major way at home on Friday to stay competitive. Getting quality distribution from the point guard spot will likely play a significant part in that.
Amen Thompson is still improving as a playmaker and has had to take on a larger role as a passer this postseason. Reed Sheppard was relegated to the bench for Game 2 after starting for the injured Kevin Durant in Game 1, and Thompson recorded at least seven assists in a third consecutive outing. He only trailed Alperen Sengun in assists per game (5.3) during the regular season, but he will have to take on more responsibility as a lead guard in the playoffs.
Thompson assisted Durant more times (102) than any other player during the regular season, and bettors should expect the 2014 MVP to eclipse his mark of 12 field goals from Game 2 in Game 3 ahead of the weekend.
Thompson will be asked to continue setting the table from time to time, despite Durant's ability to create for himself. Assists shouldn't be hard to come by, as Durant shot 56.1% from the field against Los Angeles during the regular season.
Pick: Amen Thompson Over 5.5 Assists (-125)
Spurs vs Trail Blazers
Luke Kornet Under 7.5 Rebounds
The biggest storyline surrounding Friday's San Antonio Spurs-Portland Trail Blazers matchup is Victor Wembanyama's availability. This year's Defensive Player of the Year suffered a concussion in Game 2, and his status for Game 3 is up in the air.
San Antonio has a capable backup in Luke Kornet, but there's no reason to believe that he'll dominate the boards as a fill-in should he draw a spot start. He amassed nine boards in Game 2, but wasn't extremely productive as a rebounder when Wembanyama missed games during the regular season.
The former Boston man averaged 6.2 rebounds without Wembanyama and 6.5 rebounds per game as a starter during the regular season.
There's plenty of value on the table, as Wembanyama went through conditioning on Thursday, and his symptoms reportedly haven't worsened since suffering the concussion. If he suits up, Kornet's rebound total will shift significantly. Get this number now while there's still a chance Wembanyama plays.
