There’s just one ticket left to punch for the NBA Playoffs’ version of the Final Four, as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Denver Nuggets in Game 7.
The winner gets the waiting Timberwolves in the West Final. It’s your last chance to bet on Round 2, so let’s get these Nuggets vs. Thunder props rolling.
Read on for my favorite NBA picks for Sunday, May 18.
Best Nuggets vs Thunder props
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Dort o8.5 points (-130) -
Murray 3+ threes (+135) - Jokic Under 38.5 pts+ast (-110)
Nuggets vs Thunder player props for May 18
Lu Dort Over 8.5 points (-130 at bet365)
Let’s start with the other Canadian in the Oklahoma City Thunder's starting lineup. Lu Dort has been his usual, disruptive self during this series.
In the ultimate finale of this Round 2 series, someone is going to have to step up and take some pressure off their respective MVP candidate.
For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that could be Dort, who has a very gettable 8.5 scoring line vs. the Nuggets.
Dort has pushed past this total in all three of his previous home games against the Nuggets in this series and four times overall.
Going back to the regular season, Dort has scored at least 10 points in nine of his last 14 against Denver. He’s averaging 9.5 points on 34.5% shooting in this series.
Jamal Murray 3+ threes (+135 at bet365)
The Denver Nuggets are going to need Canada’s Jamal Murray to come up big time if it has any hopes of advancing to the West Final.
It hasn’t been the best series for Murray, who has averaged 22 points, but on a dismal 41% shooting from the floor and a pedestrian 34.1% from 3-point range.
However, all he needs for you to come up aces is connecting on Over 2.5 3-point makes.
Murray has hit at least three triples in a game twice in this series, while missing the Over four other times by one make.
It can’t be all Nikola Jokic for the Thunder if they want to advance to the West Finals.
With Aaron Gordon ailing (hamstring), Murray will have to carry more weight as Jokic’s sidekick. At least you know he won’t be bashful: Murray is averaging 17.5 shot attempts in this series.
Nikola Jokic Under 38.5 points and assists (-110 at bet365)
One MVP candidate (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Nikola Jokic) is going to be disappointed at the end of Game 7 this afternoon.
For our betting purposes, we think Jokic’s production wanes in Game 7.
Despite losing two of the last three games, Jokic has done about as much as humanly possible to keep the Nuggets in it.
He went for 29 points, 14 rebounds, and eight dimes in Game 6, 44 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists in Game 5, and 27 points and 13 rebounds, and four steals.
His line for Sunday is 38.5 — a combination of points and assists — and that’s a pretty high figure to hit.
Jokic has only topped that total twice this series, both when he scored 40+ points.
The OKC game plan has been to limit the setup stuff: through the first five games, they’ve held Jokic to six or fewer assists. He finally broke through in Game 6 with eight dimes.
But it’s the Thunder’s approach that has me confident in the Under, as I don’t think Jokic can outscore this line himself.
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