The competitive spirit of the NBA playoffs is at an all-time high. From on-the-court trash talk to locker room postgame chirping in interviews, the players are locked in and focused on the ultimate goal. As the first-round series progress, the teams with the advantage become clearer. That aids in identifying quality NBA player prop bets for Friday, April 21.
If you’re looking to place a few wagers on tonight’s matchups, you’ve come to the right place. Check below to review some of what we have identified as the best on the market for Friday’s NBA playoff games.
These betting markets and more are available on the top online sportsbooks. The great part is, if you’re new to a sportsbook, you can claim a sign-up bonus just for creating an account and making a deposit.
NBA Player Props for April 21
Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
With the severity of Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury still unknown, the Celtics’ odds to get back to the NBA Finals seem pretty favorable at the moment. They have handled the Hawks pretty easily through two games, but the Hawks were a much better home team than an away team this season. If Trae Young and company can find their groove, then they may be able to extend the series further than the five games it seems destined to go at the moment.
The more attempts Young and Murray are allowed to figure things out, the more interesting things can become. If anyone can get hot in an instant, it’s the Hawks’ shooters.
Bogdan Bogdanovic to Score Over 15 Points (+150 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Atlanta guard Bogdan Bogdanovic had a rough start to the series, scoring nine points on 10 attempts. He had a much better showing in Game 2, going 7 for 11 from the field for 18 points. The Hawks are two bad quarters away from a far different showing so far. If they can minimize the second-quarter dominance of the Celtics, they’ll have a much better chance to take Game 3.
Bogdanovic is key to taking some of the defensive pressure from Young, and he found his stroke in the second game. If that carries over at home, covering his point total shouldn’t be too difficult, especially if he continues to shoot at least seven three-point attempts per contest in the playoffs.
Bet on Bogdanovic to score big with $150 in bonus bets from FanDuel Sportsbook
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
New York point guard Jalen Brunson has a strong case for Most Improved Player of the Year, but you couldn’t tell that in his last showing. With the series headed to New York, he will be looking to move past the memory of his last outing. He is one of the most aggressive guards in the Association, so be on the lookout for one of his better performances in game three.
Jalen Brunson to Score the First Field Goal (+550 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Cavs won the opening tipoff in both games so far in this series, and Brunson scored the first points both times. Game 1 was due to free throws and Game 2 was thanks to a jumper from the foul line. Brunson may be in line to do it again. He sets the tone for the Knicks right out of the gate, which means there is a good chance he is going to be looking to score first, especially after his last game.
With the Cavs on the road in New York, nerves may have a big role in prohibiting them from getting on the board first. If the Knicks win the jump ball, the odds for Brunson are even more favorable. This wager takes a lot of luck, but more than enough has happened in this series for it to make sense. At +550, why not take a shot?
Bet on Brunson to score first with $1,200 in bonuses from DraftKings
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
This series should be just about wrapped up soon. There is nothing prohibiting a Timberwolves exit but time at this point. However, there are still some interesting prop bets to consider.
Jamal Murray to Lead All Scorers (+290 on BetMGM Sportsbook)
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has definitely identified something about the matchup with the Timberwolves he likes. He put up 22 shots in both games so far, leading to 24- and 40-point outings in the games. If not for a 41-point explosion by Anthony Edwards in Game 2, he would have been the leading scorer in both games. Due to his consistent shots against the Timberwolves, his chances of being the leading scorer are pretty high, especially when you factor in the attention Nikola Jokic is drawing.
Edwards is all alone when it comes to filling the stat sheet offensively for the Timberwolves, but he is very streaky. The flame may not be quite as exquisite after his explosive Game 2 performance. That sets up Murray well to cover this wager.
Wager on Murray to light it up with $100 in bonus bets from BetMGM Sportsbook
