Best NBA Player Props Today, 04/30: Can Towns Continue Strong Playmaking?

We’ve got a three-game slate on the NBA hardwood for Thursday as the postseason’s first round rolls on. Entering Wednesday night, the top two teams in the Western Conference had advanced out of the opening round. Oklahoma City swept Phoenix while San Antonio dispatched the Trail Blazers in five games after winning Tuesday night. Meanwhile, all three matchups here are elimination games with each series standing 3-2.

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

NBA Schedule

• Knicks @ Hawks, 7 pm ET (Knicks lead 3-2)
• Celtics @ 76ers, 8 pm ET (Celtics lead 3-2)
• Nuggets @ Timberwolves, 9:30 pm ET (Timberwolves lead 3-2)

Best NBA Bets Today – Player Props

Payton Pritchard, Celtics Over 13.5 Points (-106, FanDuel)

Pritchard has stepped up his game this season and that’s carried over to the postseason. After the dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, he’s next on the team in scoring. Pritchard averages 15 ppg in 31 minutes a night in the series. He’s been an anchor of the second unit and has picked up the slack created by Derrick White’s slump. Pritchard went over this number in both games in Philadelphia. He had 15 points in Game 3 and 32 points in Game 4. Therefore, look for another over for Pritchard in this contest.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks Over 3.5 Assists (-120, BetMGM)

Towns channeled his inner Magic Johnson in Game 4 of the series. Trailing 2-1 in the series, the Knicks rolled to a 114-98 win to even things up at two games each. That seemed to be a spark to New York’s offense as they’ve found something using Towns as a facilitator. He finished with 16 points and six dimes in Tuesday’s Game 5 victory. Towns has at least four assists in eight of his last nine games. He’s averaged 5.2 dimes a night in the series. Take the over in this contest as Towns turns in another solid showing.

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Under 30.5 Points (-125, BetMGM)

Jokic averages 25.4 points, 14 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game in the postseason. He’s posted two triple-doubles in the series, both of which were Denver victories. Meanwhile, he hasn’t scored more than 27 points in a game in this series. Either way you slice it, it’s difficult to see Jokic cracking the 30-point plateau in this one. On one hand, Denver’s role players may step up they did in Game 5. The flip side is that Minnesota harasses Jokic relentlessly on the offensive end, forcing the ball out of his hands. He could take bad shots. Therefore, expecting him to blow past his series-high for points is dicey at best.

New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!

Bet Now DraftKings Promo

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $100 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 5/31/26 at 11:59 PM ET.

Best NBA Bets Today – Sides

Celtics -5.5 (FanDuel, -114)

Boston had blitzed Philadelphia from the perimeter in Games 3 and 4 on the road, hitting 44 of 100 attempts from beyond the arc. In Game 5, the Celtics were just 11 of 39 from three-point range. That makes the Celtics 24 of 89 from three-point range in their last two home games. Philadelphia was energized in Game 5 of the series as Embiid was a big factor offensively. With that said, the 76ers are 0-2 at home in this series. It’s tough to see the 76ers putting together another strong showing. In the last three-plus postseasons, Boston is just 19-12 at the TD Garden. Meanwhile, they are 17-7 as the visiting team in the playoffs. Therefore, give the advantage to the Celtics as they advance.

Nuggets -5.5 (BetMGM, -110)

Minnesota still has the upper hand in this series but their grip is weakening. The Timberwolves being victimized by the injury bug that cost them DiVincenzo and Edwards hampers them. Dosunmu was huge in Games 3 and 4 for Minnesota. He was limited to 18 points in Game 5 on seven of 14 shooting from the floor. The Timberwolves had to rely on Bones Hyland (23 minutes) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (14 minutes) in Game 5. That duo had seen 50 and seven minutes, respectively, in the series previously. Denver’s role players stepped up in Game 5. Those guys have been key contributors for the Nuggets all season.  That gives them an advantage over Minnesota, who is retooling on the fly. Therefore, expect Denver to step up again and deliver Denver a win to force Game 7.

Deposit first $5+ cash bet, get $150 in Bonus Bets

Bet Now Hard Rock Bet Promo

To be eligible, the Player must be at least 21 years old, physically located in a Eligible Jurisdiction: AZ, CO, IL, IN, MI, NJ, OH, TN, or VA, and not on any exclusionary lists in any Eligible Jurisdiction. Excluded patrons are prohibited from participating in Promotions. To be eligible all personal and contact data associated to your account must be verifiable. Arizona Customers: Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or Text NEXTSTEP to 53342. Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia Customers: Call 1-800-GAMBLER  Indiana Customers: Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT  Ohio Customers: Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-MY-RESET.  Tennessee Customers: Call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 1-800-889-9789