NBA Finals player prop picks for Game 5
The 2023 NBA Finals are drawing to a close, and as the season winds down, there are only a few games left to bet on until late October. While side bets and totals are common, there are more betting opportunities in the player prop market. In this article, we review two of the best player props for Game 5 of the Finals.
Heat vs. Nuggets player props
Jamal Murray Over 8.5 assists (+100, BetMGM)
Jamal Murray is becoming a superstar because he is moving past his scoring-only role. Murray has become a significant playmaker for the Nuggets, acting as the primary ball-handler in the pick-and-roll with Nikola Jokic and using his drive-and-kick power to hit spot-up shooters on the perimeter.
Murray is racking up assists, having recorded at least 10 in all four games of these NBA Finals, including a playoff-high 12 in Game 4. In these series, Murray is averaging over six assists per game alone to Jokic and over 18 potential assists per game, per Joe Dellera of the Action Network, meaning Murray is a strong player prop.
Jimmy Butler Under 27.5 points (-122, FanDuel)
When he’s 100 percent, Jimmy Butler is a two-way force, who can score from all three levels and loves to attack undersized defenders at the rim. Nevertheless, Butler isn’t currently at 100 percent, having stayed under 26.5 points in nine of 14 games since tweaking his ankle in Game 1 of the playoffs.
Butler is not his usual self, and the injury is likely to blame. Additionally, the Denver Nuggets have adjusted defensively to Butler, stopping him from reaching the paint and reducing the number of free throws he gets. Lastly, Denver is forcing Butler to pass out of over 50 percent of his drives.
With Miami needing hot shooting from role players and relying on Butler’s playmaking and facilitating rather than his scoring, it is likely that he will stay under 26.5 points in Game 5.
FAQs
What is a player prop bet?
A player prop bet is a type of sports betting that allows you to bet on the performance of an individual player in a particular game. These are not bets that cover the entire game, just betting on the performance of one player.
What is the difference between a side bet and a total bet?
A side bet is when you choose which team will win the game, while a total bet is when you bet on the combined score of both teams.
Proposition bets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals: Which players to watch and pick?
The 2023 NBA Finals are coming to a close, leaving only a few games left to bet on until late October, as reported by The New York Post. With limited time left, taking advantage of the player prop market is a great way to expand betting opportunities beyond sides and totals.
The writer suggests two player props for Game 5:
Heat vs. Nuggets Player Props
Jamal Murray Over 8.5 Assists (+100, BetMGM)
Jamal Murray has emerged as a superstar player through his scoring and an increased role as a playmaker for the Denver Nuggets. He has been the primary ball-handler in the pick-and-roll with Nikola Jokic and created opportunities for his teammates with his drive-and-kick power to hit spot-up shooters on the perimeter. As a result, Murray has recorded at least 10 assists in all four games of the NBA Finals, including 12 assists in Game 4. With an average of over six assists per game to Jokic and nearly 18 potential assists per game during this series, betting over 8.5 assists for Game 5 at even odds seems like a safe bet.
Jimmy Butler Under 27.5 Points (-122, FanDuel)
Jimmy Butler usually plays like a two-way force capable of scoring from all three levels and attacking defenders at the rim. However, he has been dealing with an ankle injury since Game 1 against the Knicks and hasn’t scored over 26.5 points in nine of his last 14 games, with an average of 23.9 points per game on .426/.311/.845 shooting splits. Moreover, the Denver Nuggets have adjusted their defensive strategy to limit Butler’s offense. They have done an excellent job keeping him out of the paint, limiting his field-goal attempts per game within 10 feet of the basket from over 10 in the regular season and playoffs to 8.5 in these Finals, defending without fouling to reduce his free-throw attempts from an average of nine per game to just 20 in his four Finals games, and forcing him to pass out of over half of his drives. Given Denver’s defense and Butler’s injury, betting on a Jimmy Butler Under 27.5 Points at -122 odds with FanDuel seems like a wise choice.