The NBA postseason continues this evening with a marquee doubleheader. To get things started, the Knicks will battle the 76ers in Philadelphia, looking to go up 3-0 in the series. Later, the hard-nosed Timberwolves will host Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs in a pivotal Game 3 showdown.
Who should bettors target ahead of tonight’s playoff matchups? Here are my two favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Mikal Bridges 15+ points (-109)
Things can change in a hurry during the playoffs. No player is more emblematic of that statement than Mikal Bridges. The eighth-year pro was abysmal on offense for most of round one against Atlanta. However, a stellar Game 6 performance seems to have given the wing new life. Over his last two games against the Sixers, Bridges has posted a combined 35 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. In addition, he’s shooting 70% from the field and 43% from three-point range during that small sample size. It’s not as if this should come as a major shock. The veteran, going back to his time in Phoenix, has always been a big-game player.
The Knicks will need Bridges now more than ever with OG Anunoby (hamstring) questionable. As things stand on Friday morning, it feels unlikely the forward will suit up this evening. If that’s the case, more touches in offense are almost inevitable for Bridges. The 29-year-old has experience in this spot, having played 15 games this season without OG. He managed to score at least 15 points in 11 of those appearances. Philadelphia will have to exert most of its defensive attention tonight on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. That should lead to plenty of good looks for Mikal in this one.
Stephon Castle 17+ points (-108)
A resounding Game 2 win has the Spurs back on track. Much of the credit goes to Stephon Castle, a stabilizing presence on both ends of the court. The guard has been solid this postseason, serving as both a facilitator and scorer. Through seven playoff games, he’s averaging 19.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 46% from the field and 42% from three-point range. Those scoring numbers are due in part to generating hard contact; Castle has already shot 17 free throws in this series. Minnesota owns an 18.6% personal foul rate per defensive play, fourth-most in basketball.
Part of what makes Castle such a promising pick tonight is Minnesota’s defense. To be clear, the Timberwolves are among the NBA’s toughest teams to score on. However, their biggest strength is protecting the paint. Victor Wembanyama was held to a combined 30 points in Games 1 & 2. At this point, head coach Chris Finch appears more than willing to sell out against San Antonio’s superstar center. On the flip side, Castle has notched 17+ points in each of his previous two meetings with Minnesota. That’s despite playing no more than 28 minutes in either matchup. Assuming he garners an even larger workload on Friday, another productive outing feels likely.
