The Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks both head home nursing wounds and 0-2 deficits in their respective series.
Bettors should consider the narrative surrounding both teams as they ready their wagers for Friday night’s NBA props and same-game parlays.
While Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is imploring his team to step up and support superstar Luka Doncic, the Sixers are wondering if the expiration date has passed on their presumed supermax candidate, James Harden.
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It stands to reason both underdogs will come out with their teeth showing. However, for now, we’ll let others decide whether that will equate to more bite or just a whole lotta bark. For now, we’re focused on the individual player performances. Can Harden turn back the clock for Game 3? Will someone on the Mavs offer Doncic some support, and if so, who are the top candidates?
We’re certainly not covering every attractive prop offering — DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook often have some of the deepest prop markets in the mobile sportsbook industry. However, we’re happy to get bettors started by offering a few that stand out.
Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers Game 3 Odds
Heat vs. Sixers Player Props
James Harden ‘Under’ 38.5 Combined Points, Rebounds, Assists (-115, FanDuel)
While we like the ‘under’ in this spot, we’ll also encourage bettors to avoid going overboard with their wager(s). It’s easy to be influenced by those proclaiming Harden’s demise. He’s not what he once was, but he’s a future Hall of Famer who could still have just enough fumes in the tank to deliver one vintage performance this series. That said, Harden has struggled mightily in the scoring department. He’s failed to top 22 points during the postseason, which puts immense pressure on him — and his teammates — to deliver enough supporting statistics to reach a total of 39 across the triple-double categories. We like the ‘under’ even more if Joel Embiid works his way into the lineup.
Tyrese Maxey ‘Over’ 22.5 Points (-105, DraftKings)
Maxey has a couple of things going for him. First and foremost, he’s established himself as the best player on the Sixers sans Embiid. Secondly, the Sixers will be at home. Now, to Maxey’s credit, his scoring average was nearly identical home and away. We still like when players receive some home cooking in the playoffs, especially young players — Maxey is still only 21 years old. He’s scored at least 23 points in four of eight playoff contests, but with Harden’s apparent inability to threaten the Heat defense the way he was once able, Maxey will be in line for a few more shot attempts.
Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 3 Odds
Suns vs. Mavericks Player Props
Deandre Ayton ‘Over’ 18.5 Points (+100, DraftKings), 20+ Points (+124, FanDuel)
The Suns prevailed in Game 2 with relative ease despite receiving a dud from Deandre Ayton, who in 18 minutes, had more personal fouls (four) than made field goal attempts (three). Bettors should anticipate up to double the court time — he played 40 minutes in their Game 6 win over the New Orleans Pelicans — and much heavier shot volume. Ayton neither shoots threes nor free throws with much frequency. However, he’s averaging 15.6 shots per game at a 68.1 percent clip if you eliminate his two six-shot outliers. Sometimes there’s no motivator quite like the frustration of a poor game. For bettors particularly bullish on a bounce-back performance, FanDuel is offering Ayton at +124 to score at least 20 points.
Devin Booker ‘Over’ 4.5 Assists (+125, DraftKings)
Booker can set the net on fire like few others in the game, but he’s more than a one-dimensional scorer. He averaged 4.8 assists during the regular season and has reached five assists in nine of his last 19 games dating back to the beginning of March. That’s a good percentage of ‘over’ tallies considering the plus-money odds DraftKings is offering. Another note to consider is Booker has actually performed better statistically on the road this season. And while it’s typically the role players who bear watching when a series moves away from home, bettors can suppress some of those concerns considering the experience this group gained during their run to the NBA Finals last summer.
Jalen Brunson ‘Over’ 1.5 Threes (+145, DraftKings)
Brunson has not been razor sharp from beyond the arc during the postseason. His 35.1 percent mark from three is two percentage points lower than what it was during the regular season. We’re not quite as fixated on his efficiency as we are the potential volume he may see. He’s had games with 10, seven, and five three-point attempts during the playoffs. His game with 10 attempts came in Doncic’s absence, but head coach Jason Kidd has challenged his team to provide Doncic with some support. Brunson will be among the first given the opportunity to shoulder some extra responsibility. Hitting two threes is too light of a task for bettors to ignore. Especially with DraftKings offering such an attractive price.
NBA Same-Game Parlays For Friday Night’s Fixtures
While the edge in sportsbooks’ favor is larger with SGPs than it is for straight bets on the point spread, total, or individual props, they’ve become a popular way for bettors to play. Having some small investments in these multiple-leg wagers can make for a fun, and sometimes profitable, sweat.
If you’re interested in getting involved in SGPs on Friday, look for correlated plays. For example, if you like Dallas to bounce back and claim Game 3, it makes sense to combine Mavericks +1 with Brunson ‘over’ 1.5 threes. Likewise, if you’re laying the points with the Suns, consider adding ‘over’ Ayton points to your SGP.
Also read: NBA Finals MVP odds | Odds to win 2022 NBA title | Grizzlies vs. Warriors updated odds
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