NBA Player Props and Best Bets: Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & More Picks for NBA Playoffs on Thursday

The NBA Playoffs are in full tilt, and I have my top player prop picks today locked and loaded.

Jalen Brunson powered the New York Knicks to a hard-fought win over the Philadelphia 76ers sans Joel Embiid yesterday to take a 2-0 series lead heading back to Philly. Later in the evening, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs eviscerated the Minnesota Timberwolves, beating them by 38 points to tie the series at one apiece heading back to Minnesota.

The pendulum swings back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons in the early game tonight, before the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder will make their returns to the court.

Here are my top NBA player prop picks and bets today for the NBA Playoffs on Thursday, May 7.

Best NBA Prop Bets for Thursday, May 7

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Cade Cunningham Over 27.5 Points (-114) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The inefficient shooting nights are scary with Cunningham, but I can’t help but love the shot volume that he’s gotten during the postseason. The former first-overall pick went over in three of his last four games and averaged 21.9 field goal attempts per game during the playoffs, which is more than enough to hit this number.

Cunningham went under in all five regular-season and postseason matchups with the Cavaliers. However, he still looked totally in control of Game 1, and he and the Pistons have been excellent on their home court, leading me to believe that he can still hit the over tonight.

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James Harden Over 4.5 Rebounds (-152) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Harden looked like he was playing at about 30 percent speed compared to the Pistons in their first meeting of the series, yet he still finished with eight rebounds. He has now gone over this number in four straight games and in three of four regular-season and playoff matchups with Detroit.

In an ironic way, Harden’s lack of defensive activity and slow-moving nature will lead him to be closer to the glass and in better positions to collect rebounds. He averaged at least 4.5 rebounds for 16 straight postseasons, and the only time that he didn’t was during his rookie season in 2009-10.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 7.5 Assists (+100) at FanDuel Sportsbook

I unsuccessfully predicted this same line in Game 1, although I feel as if I need to defend myself. The Lakers clearly played Gilgeous-Alexander to be a passer, not a scorer, and he ended up scoring a season-low in points (18) on only 15 field goal attempts. His seven turnovers and poor execution with his passes ultimately derailed the over, but the opportunity was there.

The Lakers simply don’t have the length or speed on defense to contain Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder’s other guards, which means they have to show lots of help and live in rotation on the back end. That approach leads to inevitably conceding open shots, and although the Thunder shot 49/43/92 splits in Game 1, they could’ve made a lot more open shots.

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Austin Reaves Under 18.5 Points (-118) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Reaves has been wildly unreliable against the Thunder this season, especially considering he finished the year averaging 23.3 points and was among the league’s leading scorers at one point. He only scored eight points on 18.8 percent shooting in Game 1 and didn’t score more than 16 points in four matchups with OKC.

Reaves is a finesse player who benefits from getting to the free-throw line when he runs into more physical defenders. The problem is that the hyper-athletic Thunder can stay in front of him, and they benefit with the referees from their reputation of being elite on defense, ultimately helping them to avoid conceding would-be free throws.

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Deandre Ayton Over 8.5 Rebounds (-130) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Lakers need Ayton to be a productive player in this series, especially given the impact that Chet Holmgren had on Game 1. Ayton averaged 8.0 rebounds per game during the regular season and snatched 12 boards in 27 minutes on Tuesday in what tied his fewest minutes in a game in these playoffs.

Ayton went over in five of seven games in the playoffs, and his potential to be the x-factor in the series means that he basically has to spend time on the floor. The Thunder played Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren 56 combined minutes in Game 1, and Ayton will be used to match them in those minutes.

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