NBA and NHL Playoff Prop Bets: Top Plays Across the Leagues
Breaking down some of the best props and slates around the league for the NBA and NHL playoffs. Whether that means goalies locking down the crease or shooters dropping three pointers, analyzing the data is the key to finding an edge. If you are looking for the best NHL and NBA player prop bets on the board tonight, this is the play for you.
Scott Wedgewood 24+ Saves – Wednesday May 20th, LV Knights vs COL Avalanche
With the high scoring Avalanche meeting up with the Golden Knights for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the NHL playoffs are heating up. The Avalanche are down star defenseman Cale Makar, meaning the defensive spotlight will be on goaltender Scott Wedgewood and the Knights defense. Wedgewood has had an amazing postseason with a 7-1 record and a .914 save percentage. While Wedgewood did not play full games in the final three games of the last series, he performed incredibly well in full matches, recording 30 and 29 saves respectively. Wedgewood has a B Matchup Grade, paired with a favorable overall outlook as a result of the Knights performance on defense. The play here is Wedgewood to make 24+ saves, making this one of the best NHL player prop bets on the board.
Julian Champagnie 2+ Threes – Wednesday May 20th, SA Spurs vs OKC Thunder
Looking at the NBA playoffs, Julian Champagnie of the San Antonio Spurs stands out. Champagnie attempts a high volume of threes, averaging 6.2 attempts and 2.4 makes per game across the entire season. Looking specifically at his last five games (L5), that volume has jumped to 7.8 attempts, including 11 three point attempts in the first game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Looking at his actual three point shooting in his L5, he has cleared the 2+ threes line 80% of the time. Expanding that data pool, he has cleared it 90% of the time in his last ten games (L10) and 70% of the time in his last twenty games (L20), missing the mark only six times in that longer span. The Thunder defense is also poor against three pointers, giving Champagnie an extra edge to cover this line, ranking this among the NBA best bets for the slate.
Jaccob Slavin 2+ Shots on Goal – Thursday May 21st, MTL Canadiens vs CAR Hurricanes
This Canadiens versus Hurricanes series matchup is expected to feature high offensive production and plenty of shots for both teams. Over the last five games (L5), the Hurricanes have averaged 33.2 shots on goal, while the Canadiens are averaging 28 shots on goal per game in the same span. Leaning on the Hurricanes increased shot average, the focus shifts to Jaccob Slavin for shots on goal. During the regular season, Slavin averaged only 1.6 shots per game. However, looking at his L5 and last ten games (L10), that average has jumped. In his L5, he averages 2.2 shots on goal with an 80% hit rate. That hit rate drops slightly to 75% when looking at his L10, missing out on four games, two of which he did not play. Expect this game to have a high amount of targets and shots on goal, with the Hurricanes specifically seeing a significantly higher average compared to their regular season pace.
OG Anunoby 6+ Rebounds and Assist – Thursday May 21st, CLE Cavaliers vs NYK Knicks
The Knicks return to MSG looking to build on a historic 22 point fourth quarter comeback. In his return to the lineup, OG Anunoby overcame a slow start to dominate the boards, proving his recent injury is fully behind him. Examining his stats reveals strong value for this combined line. Despite missing some time, he is averaging 7.1 rebounds in his last ten games (L10) and 4.3 over his last five games (L5). On the distribution side, he averages 2.1 assists on the season, which jumps to 2.5 in head to head matchups against the Cavaliers. Combining his typical output of roughly four rebounds and two assists makes the 6+ line highly feasible, a projection heavily supported by his combined average of 8.6 rebounds and assists and a median of 10 over his L10.
