NBA Player Props: Clippers’ Paul George Front And Center In Friday Play-In Games

The final two NBA Playoff teams will be decided Friday night, as the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers battle for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, followed by the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers vying for the last spot in the West. Here’s a look at NBA player props sportsbooks are offering for your betting enjoyment.

Friday’s two games serve as an appetizer for the beginning of Saturday’s NBA playoff action. Bettors have no shortage of wagering options to complement postseason play.

Here’s a look at point spread, totals, and player props for Friday’s two-game slate.

Hawks vs. Cavaliers Player Props

Darius Garland 10-plus Assists (+116, FanDuel)

Wagering on 10 assists can feel like an aggressive play. However, Garland’s form warrants the risk. He’s been dominant in the assists department, averaging 10 per game since the All-Star break. The Hawks don’t exactly play lockdown defense, and Garland has dished out 10 dimes in 13 of his last 21 contests.

Darius Garland Over 12.5 Assists + Rebounds (-110, DraftKings)

Garland doesn’t make his living on the glass, but he offers the value to warrant the wager in this spot. He’s been lighting up the assist column for a couple of months, and that’s where he’ll do his heavy lifting. He’s averaging 3.3 boards on the season, but has collected at least five in three of his last nine. He doesn’t need to reach that level of production, but if he does, this will be an easy ‘over’.

Trae Young Scores 35-plus Points (+220, FD)

This prop may have some appeal to those more inclined for high-risk, high-reward gambles. Reaching 35 points is a tough task even for the likes of Young. He’s performed well against the Cavaliers this season though. He scored at least 35 points in two of three meetings and scored 30 on a mere 17 field-goal attempts.

Pelicans at Clippers Player Props

Paul George Over 27.5 Points (+105, DK)

Bettors can make a number of calls worse than backing George here. While he’ll need to be on, his Tuesday performance provided a glimpse of the type of usage he’ll receive. He attempted 24 shots in Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota and finished with 34 points. For those who find 27.5 to be too rich, FanDuel is offering the ‘under’ at -116.

Paul George Under 5.5 Assists (+120, FD)

George is one of the game’s best all-around players, so six assists hardly qualifies as a reach. Bettors considering the ‘under’ will want to take into account how much of the scoring they expect George to handle. Leading the scoring charge won’t preclude him from dishing out half a dozen assists. However, with a favorable price on the ‘under’, banking on five or fewer helpers isn’t a bad bet.

Jonas Valanciunas Under 19.5 Points (-105, DK)

While Valanciunas has enjoyed some scoring outbursts of late, he’s not one to consistently blitz the box score in that department. He averaged 17.8 points this season, and he’ll likely settle in the high teens once again. Valanciunas has been a reasonably efficient scorer, but volume will be the key Friday. C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram will dominate shot volume, so Valanciunas faces an uphill climb to reach 20 points.