Best NBA Player Props Today, 04/20: Can Barnes Dish the Raptors a Win?

We’ve got a three-game slate on the NBA hardwood for Monday as the postseason’s first round rolls on. After four series opened up Saturday, the other four got underway Sunday. Will we see a trio of teams facing a 2-0 series deficit or will there be some 1-1 series as they prepare to switch venues?

Let’s take a spin around the league and see what’s on tap while identifying the best NBA bets today.

NBA Schedule

Raptors @ Cavaliers, 7 pm ET (Cavaliers lead 1-0)Hawks @ Knicks, 8 pm ET (Knicks lead 1-0)Timberwolves @ Nuggets, 10:30 pm ET (Nuggets lead 1-0)

In the three games on the docket Monday, the home team prevailed in each contest. Not only that, the home side won by double figures in each contest. That means that the visitors have some work to do in order to avoid falling into a 2-0 deficit prior to the teams changing sites for Games 3 and 4?

Best NBA Bets Today – Player Props

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets To Post a Triple-Double (-115, BetMGM): Jokic led the league in triple-doubles this season with 34. That lapped the field as Chicago’s Josh Giddey and Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson were second with 13. Jokic put up massive numbers against Minnesota this season in the team’s four meetings during the regular season. He put up 35.8 points, 15 rebounds and 11.3 assists while averaging 38.3 minutes a night. Jokic shot 63.2% from the floor, 50% from three-point range and 93.2% at the line in those contests. Things weren’t much different in the playoff opener as Jokic put up 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in the win. Look for another big night from the Joker here.

Jalen Brunson, Knicks Over 27.5 Points (-110, FanDuel): Brunson scored 28 points in Game 1 of this series Saturday as the Knicks drew first blood. He had a big first half, scoring 22 points, before tapering off in the second half. Brunson averaged 29.3 points and 7.7 assists in the Knicks’s three regular season games against the Hawks this season. That included a 30-point showing in the final regular season tilt with the Hawks April 6. Saturday’s showing was right in line with what he put up against Atlanta this year. Look for Brunson to go for 30 in this one.

Scottie Barnes, Raptors Over 5.5 Assists (-130): Barnes did what he could to keep the Raptors in the game Saturday but his teammates needed to do more. He finished with 21 points and seven assists in the contest. Barnes has gone over the number for this prop seven times in the last 10 games, including Game 1. He’s been a strong facilitator this season and if the Raptors are going to have a shot here, they have to help Barnes out here. Look for him to go over the number again here.

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Best NBA Bets Today – Sides

Nuggets -6.5 (FanDuel, -110): Minnesota had their chances in the opener but couldn’t sustain their strong start. As a result, they ended up falling by double figures and find themselves down 1-0 in the series. The Timberwolves now have to try and prevail in a hostile environment facing a 2-0 hole if they fall here. Edwards’ popping up on the injury report is cause for concern. He struggled to a seven of 22 shooting performance in the opener. Minnesota was hurt at the line as they were 14 of 19 to Denver’s 30 of 33. The Timberwolves have yet to slow Jokic this season and playing on the road, give the edge to the Nuggets.

Knicks -5.5 (FanDuel, -110): New York took care of business in the first meeting Saturday as their key contributors showed up. The Knicks got 28 from Jalen Brunson (22 in the first half) and 25 from Karl-Anthony Towns (19 in the second half) in the victory. New York held a 45-40 advantage on the glass and the Hawks got next to nothing from their bench. Atlanta’s reserves contributed 13 points on five of 15 shooting in 55 minutes of action. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (six of 17) and Jalen Johnson (eight of 19) have to be better. It might happen in  Game 3 but tough to see it happening here.

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