All eyes of the NBA world will be on the Rockets vs. Warriors Game 6 matchup as it takes center stage as the only playoff matchup of the night. Amen Thompson and company fell into a 3-1 series hole, but produced the victory in the last matchup to extend their season. Both teams will now return to the Bay Area for this fateful Game 6 matchup.
Steve Kerr and the Warriors seemed content accepting this outcome after the Rockets got out to a commanding lead in Game 5. All of the Warriors’ starters were pulled from the game with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter as the attention shifted to tonight’s matchup. Golden State has won both home games in the series already and Houston no longer has any cushion to work with.
The Warriors enter this potential closeout matchup as 5.5-point favorites with -238 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Rockets hold +195 odds of pulling off the upset, with the game total set at 208 for this matchup.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Sengun prop bets ahead of Game 6.
Best Amen Thompson Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Thompson’s props are listed at over/under 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.5 made three-pointers and 24.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 Rebounds (+114)
The rebounding battle was a notable storyline entering this series, but it has not had as much impact on the results as expected. The Rockets led the NBA in rebounding across the regular season, including pulling in more offensive rebounds than any other team. This has translated to the postseason with Amen Thompson playing a key part.
Across the regular season, the springy forward averaged 8.2 rebounds per game. He has pulled in 6.4 per game through the opening five games of the series, but tallied over 7.5 rebounds in two of the games. The 22-year-old has seen an increase in opportunity on the floor with the primary task of chasing Steph Curry around for stretches. He has clocked 31 or more minutes in four of the games in this series, giving him plenty of opportunities to pull in rebounds.
Houston has leaned on their jumbo lineup of Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun in an attempt to capitalize on Golden State’s weakness on the interior. This has been effective at times, but the Rockets’ biggest issue has been their lack of offense. Expect more of a priority to be on having more offensive talent on the floor, with Thompson being asked to pitch in more in the rebounding department as a result.
It is worth noting that Thompson pulled in as many as 11 rebounds during the regular season matchups with Golden State, averaging exactly eight rebounds per game in these five games. It will be an all-hands-on-deck effort from both sides tonight, but Thompson possesses a level of top-tier athleticism and verticality that no one else on the court can reach. Expect this to come into play tonight as he attacks the glass with reckless abandon. Houston needs to generate additional offensive possessions for the team to have success, so expect Thompson to lead this charge. Look for him to record over 7.5 rebounds for the third time in this series.
Amen Thompson Over 2.5 Steals/Blocks (+100)
While we can sugarcoat that his offense is improving and how he still finds ways to impact the game without a reliable jump shot, the fact of the matter is Amen Thompson is on the court for his defense. He is coming off a five-steal and three-block performance in the previous game and averaged 2.7 combined steals and blocks across the regular season.
Houston is loaded with high-level athletes who defend at an elite level on the perimeter and are effective at creating disruptions. But, it is Thompson at the heart of this, so expect it to be on display tonight. He tallied 14 combined steals and blocks against Golden State during the regular season, or 2.8 per game, slightly above his season average. Game 2 of this series, in which he was limited to under 23 minutes of action, was the only game in which he did not tally at least one assist or block.
Expect an all-out defensive attack from Houston tonight as they do their best to impose themselves and prevent the crowd from getting behind the home squad. Thompson will surely lead this charge and should be a bit more willing to gamble. Houston also has leaned on Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason as Curry’s primary defender more frequently as the series progressed, giving Thompson the freedom to float off-ball and get his hands in the mix. He has not looked afraid of the magnitude of the moment, and I like his chances of leading the defensive charge with over 2.5 combined steals and blocks tonight.
