Kyrie Irving Odds and Props: Vintage Kyrie Shows Up in Game 2

Kyrie Irving has emerged as the Dallas Mavericks’ vocal leader and he’s said all the right things so far on this trip to the 2024 NBA Finals – what it means to return to this stage, his reflections on his time with the Boston Celtics, and his advice for his younger teammates. However, the time for talking is over with Dallas trailing 1-0. 

After Irving served up an underwhelming outing in Game 1, going 6-for-19 from the field and missing all five of his 3-pointers, the Mavs need an A+ performance from Kyrie tonight to get a foothold in the series.

I expect both Irving and Luka Doncic to respond in Game 2, and their NBA odds should be among the more popular NBA picks. Here are my standout choices from the Kyrie Irving odds.

Kyrie Irving prop picks for June 9

• Over 22.5 points (-108)
• Over 22.5 points + Under 4.5 assists + Over 0.5 steals (+350)

Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Kyrie Irving best bet

Over 22.5 points (-108)

I was on the Under for the Kyrie Irving points prop in Game 1, with the pressure-cooker atmosphere at TD Garden and the daunting task of shedding Boston Celtics guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

The Mavs have been Game 2 kings in these playoffs, and it feels like a bounceback Irving performance is coming. Though Kyrie finished with just 12 points on Thursday, there were reasons for optimism. He missed some good looks, particularly from downtown, and was aggressive in looking for his shot.

He made the most of his chances to attack Al Horford on switches, while his eyes should light up any time Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard step on the court, even if both are sturdier defenders than they appear.

In response to the Mavs’ Game 1 offensive dud, the Irving points O/U has dropped from 23.5 to 22.5, and that comes as a surprise given how much Dallas is going to depend on Kyrie’s shotmaking tonight. It makes the Over an even more appealing pick.

Against a Celtics defense that’s resisting the urge to double-team Luka Doncic, the lobs and open triples dried up in Game 1. If that trend continues tonight, the Mavs are going to need peak Kyrie iso scoring to throw some haymakers of their own. There’s certainly no wiggle room for Irving to ease his way into tonight’s contest, as he did at times in earlier playoff series. I see him making a flying start on the way to 20+ field goal attempts.

He also didn’t have a single free throw in Game 1 — and that has to change if the Dallas Mavericks are going to level the series here. With Kyrie’s Finals experience, I expect him to make the necessary adjustments after 72 hours to digest Thursday’s setback.

Irving blew past this scoring O/U number in three of the five Western Conference Finals contests against the Timberwolves, including a 36-point masterpiece in the Game 5 clincher. The formula for a big road win tonight has to start with supernova efforts from both Kyrie and Luka.

Prop: Over 22.5 points (-108 at DraftKings)

Kyrie Irving same-game parlay

Kyrie Irving Over 22.5 points

Kyrie Irving Under 4.5 assists

Kyrie Irving Over 0.5 steals

+350 at bet365

While I’m picking Irving to be in attack mode, I’m not convinced that translates to a big playmaking night. He was held to just two assists in Game 1, and he’s often working off the ball with Doncic at the controls.

Kyrie is certainly capable of piling up dimes, but I’m grabbing the Under here. He’s fallen short of five assists in six of his last eight outings, and this athletic, air-tight Celtics defense just doesn’t give ball-handlers easy passing angles. When he gets into the paint, a score-first mindset is generally the best option.

To complete my SGP, I’m leaning into Irving’s improved effort on the defensive end. He’s held his own throughout this postseason run, and he’s had at least one steal in four of his past five games.

Boston can be sloppy with the ball at times (Jayson Tatum had six turnovers on Thursday) and that plays to Kyrie’s strengths, with his sharp instincts and active hands. I expect him to cap an eye-catching scoring night by making a few big defensive plays.

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