Game 1 between the Timberwolves and Spurs will be played in San Antonio on Monday. San Antonio is favored by 9.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the game total set at 220.5 points.
Let’s dive into my favorite Julius Randle player prop for Monday’s contest.
Best Julius Randle prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Julius Randle U 18.5 Points (-116)
Randle’s scoring line being up to 18.5 points is puzzling, and backing him for this under feels like a no-brainer. The Spurs feature an elite defense, anchored by Victor Wembanyama, the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. San Antonio ranks in the top three in defensive rating across the regular season and playoffs.
Randle fell below 18.5 points in two of the Timberwolves’ three regular-season matchups with the Spurs. Anthony Edwards was active for all these games, and the superstar is expected to return for Game 1 after missing the past two contests with a knee injury.
Edwards leads the Timberwolves with a 32% usage rate this season. When he plays, Randle naturally sees fewer opportunities. The forward’s usage decreases 2.1 percentage points to 25.2% when sharing the floor with Edwards. Randle has scored 16 points or fewer in three of his four playoff starts with Edwards in the lineup.
