The 2022 NBA season is back in full force after the conclusion of March Madness Monday evening.
Congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks, this year’s NCAA champions, but the attention now turns back to the race for play-in spots, the MVP award, and playoff seeding — in addition to the usual betting frenzy.
Here are the best prop bets that you should consider for NBA action on Tuesday, April 5.
Joel Embiid o33.5 points (-114)
Yes, this is a very high points total for negative odds, but listen to the case: Embiid just said on Sunday that he “does not know” what he needs to do to win the MVP award, meaning that his individual success is at the front of his mind.
The Philadelphia 76ers will also be playing the Indiana Pacers, who have lost seven straight games and go most of their games without playing a center for any sustained minutes. Local fans can celebrate “stealing” Tyrese Haliburton in the trade, but tomorrow’s national headline should cater to a dominant Embiid performance tonight.
James Harden has also not been dominating the ball as he has in previous stops, which means that Embiid should be able to keep getting his shots. He is also a tremendous free-throw shooter, so in the event the smaller Pacers players send him to the line, he will be just fine.
Los Angeles Lakers +7.5 (-110) first half spread
The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on the Phoenix Suns in the desert tonight; they are 0-3 against this opponent, who coincidentally knocked them out in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
There is also bad blood between the two, with Devin Booker and Anthony Davis recently taking shots at each other’s squad during interviews.
Notably, the Lakers are one of the worst teams in the entire league against the spread; however, much of this can be attributed to their third-quarter lulls and inability to get stops late in games.
Phoenix will probably win convincingly, but with Davis back in the lineup and Russell Westbrook playing his best basketball as a Laker, the purple and gold should be able to keep the Suns at least within an arm’s reach to start the night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo 35+ points (+144)
It is a great night for superstar points — Giannis is firmly in the mix for the MVP and scoring title, competing against Joel Embiid in both and LeBron James in the latter.
The “Greek Freak” is averaging 37.3 points per game in his last three outings and has shown new wrinkles to his offensive game, which should terrify opposing coaches. The only way that this prop does not come through is if the game is a blowout from the start, which is unlikely, given the opponent.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be taking on the Chicago Bulls, who have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference all season. Chicago has a very poor record against top teams, but they should remain competitive and allow Giannis the opportunity to close them out as he scores over 35.
