The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a significant 117-93 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, capitalizing on Stephen Curry`s absence. They aim to take a 2-1 series lead as they play at Golden State on Saturday. Julius Randle was a key player for Minnesota in Game 2, contributing 24 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, shooting 10 of 17 from the field. While he averaged 18.7 points in the regular season, his scoring has increased to 22.1 points in the NBA playoffs. This performance raises the question of whether he should be included in your NBA player prop bets for Saturday.
Randle`s over/under for points is set at 19.5 according to the latest NBA prop odds. Saturday`s playoff schedule also features a matchup between the Knicks and Celtics at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks lead the series 2-0, but the Celtics are favored on the road in Game 3.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has a proven track record with its top-rated NBA picks. Analysts have evaluated the simulation results and supporting data to identify player props offering the best potential value for today`s games. It`s worth noting that NBA odds can fluctuate, so acting promptly is recommended.
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 made 3-pointers (+200)
Despite attempting only one 3-pointer in both Game 1 and Game 2, oddsmakers are offering favorable odds for Towns to make at least two threes on Saturday. His season average stands at 1.9 made 3-pointers per game, and the SportsLine model forecasts him finishing with 1.8 makes in this upcoming game, suggesting value on the Over. According to the analysis, while the Knicks` strategy of overcoming large deficits isn`t consistently reliable, encouraging Towns to take more threes (6+) and making at least two represents a more sustainable approach for the team to start games better. The analysis highlights buying low after his recent trend of hitting the under on threes, noting his pre-March 28th trend where he hit the over 62.3% of the time (43-26).
Donte DiVincenzo Over 3.5 rebounds (+115)
This prop also presents a plus-money opportunity, influenced by DiVincenzo securing exactly three rebounds in the first two games of the series. In contrast, he grabbed 19 rebounds over five games against the Lakers previously, despite limited minutes in one game. DiVincenzo averages 3.7 rebounds overall and is projected by the model to record 3.6 in this game, supporting the Over pick on his rebounds prop. The analysis suggests that players known for their hustle, like DiVincenzo, tend to increase their effort in other aspects of the game, such as rebounding, particularly when their shooting is struggling (he`s been cold from three recently), as a way to maintain playing time.
Rudy Gobert Over 18.5 points + rebounds (-118)
Gobert faces a Golden State team that is relatively undersized in this series. He has accumulated 20 combined points and rebounds in the first two games. He reached exactly 20 in Game 1 but finished with 14 during the Game 2 blowout. With the Warriors expected to be more competitive playing at home in Game 3, Gobert will likely see more playing time. The SportsLine model predicts him achieving 22.5 combined points and rebounds, projecting a double-double performance.
Jasper Hawthorne