Basketball bettors will be treated to a trio of Game 3s on Friday night as the opening round of the NBA Playoffs continues. With the shift in home-court advantage to the lower-seeded teams, the upcoming slate of NBA playoff games presents a potential change in momentum. This change could significantly influence the outcomes of each series.
Here are five NBA wagers you should consider Friday:
Milwaukee Bucks @ Indiana Pacers – 5:30 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers evened the series at a game apiece with a convincing 125-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2. Pascal Siakam was instrumental in the win, delivering a standout performance with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. For the Bucks, Damian Lillard was the top scorer, contributing 34 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
Pascal Siakam over 38.5 points + rebounds: -115 (bet365)
Siakam has been dominant in the first two games of the series against the Bucks, significantly surpassing the over for combined points and rebounds. In Game 1, he scored 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, totalling 49, and in Game 2, he posted 37 points with 11 rebounds, totaling 48 combined points and rebounds. With Giannis Antetokounmpo absent from the Bucks’ lineup, a crucial defensive and rebounding force is missing in their frontcourt. This absence has evidently benefitted Siakam, and given the trends from the first two games, it’s reasonable to anticipate that he will exceed his points and rebounds totals once again in Game 3.
Pascal Siakam over 38.5 points + rebounds
-115
Los Angeles Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks – 8 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks evened their series 1-1 with the Los Angeles Clippers following a closely contested 96-93 win in Game 2. The dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the way to the Mavericks’ victory. Doncic contributed significantly with 32 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, while Kyrie Irving added 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals to the effort. For the Clippers, Paul George and James Harden were the leading scorers, each putting up 22 points. This crucial win sets the stage for what promises to be an intense continuation of the series as home court advantage now shifts to the Mavericks.
James Harden over 7.5 assists: -142 (BetMGM)
Harden has been a consistent playmaker in this series against the Mavericks, registering eight assists from 12 potential assists in the first two games while logging significant minutes: 39 and 42, respectively. Reflecting on his performance from all the way in his career back with the Brooklyn Nets, Harden consistently recorded eight or more assists in games where he played over 30 minutes against the Mavericks. Given this pattern of high-level facilitating and his substantial playing time, it’s reasonable to expect Harden to exceed 7.5 assists in Game 3.
Ivica Zubac over 10.5 rebounds: +100 (DraftKings)
Zubac has demonstrated strong rebounding capabilities in the playoff series against the Mavericks. In Game 1, he recorded 15 rebounds from 26 rebounding opportunities and followed that up with 12 rebounds from 20 opportunities in Game 2. Playing consistently high minutes, Zubac logged 33 minutes in each of the first two games. His rebounding performance in recent games where he has played more than 25 minutes has been impressive, with counts of 12, 11, 15, 11, and 13 rebounds. Given this consistent pattern of high rebounding performance, it’s quite likely that Zubac will surpass the 10.5-rebound mark again in Game 3.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns – 10:30 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves extended their series lead to 2-0 with a solid 105-93 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2. Jaden McDaniels led the way to victory for the Timberwolves, leading the team with 25 points and securing eight rebounds. On the Suns’ side, Devin Booker was the top scorer, contributing 20 points to his team’s effort. This victory was key for the Timberwolves as they look to continue to capitalize on the momentum they built in the series.
Anthony Edwards over 5.5 assists: -120 (bet365)
Edwards has showcased his playmaking abilities effectively in the first two games of the series, delivering impressive assist totals. In Game 1, he recorded six assists from nine potential assists while playing 36 minutes, and in Game 2, he improved to eight assists from 11 potential assists over 38 minutes of play. This trend highlights his growing role as a creator for his team, successfully setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates. Given his recent performance and increased playmaking responsibilities, Ant-Man is well-positioned to exceed his assists line of 5.5 assists once again in Game 3.
Anthony Edwards over 5.5 assists
-120
Devin Booker under 26.5 points: -130 (DraftKings)
Booker has struggled to surpass the 26.5-points mark in recent matchups against the Timberwolves, particularly when Bradley Beal is also on the floor. Excluding a game in November 2023 where Beal did not play and Booker scored over in points, Booker’s scoring and field goal attempts have noticeably decreased in games where Beal was active, recording just 13, 23, and 18 points in subsequent meetings, and 20 points more recently in Game 2 of their current series.
Defensively, the Timberwolves have been effective in containing Booker. McDaniels, in particular, has played a key role, limiting Booker to just three points on 1-for-6 shooting when directly matched up against him and blocking him twice. Similarly, when guarded by Rudy Gobert, Booker has only managed to make one of six shots. Given the Timberwolves’ elite defence and the historical trend of Booker’s performance under similar conditions, there is a strong indication that Booker will score under 26.5 points.
