The NBA playoffs resume this Tuesday, as two crucial Game 1s take center stage tonight — and our NBA betting expert Joe Dellera has identified his top player prop pick showing significant value in the series opener between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
Let's get into the breakdown of his top NBA player prop pick for Jalen Duren on Tuesday, May 5.
NBA Player Props: Tuesday, May 5
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Prop Pick: Jalen Duren
Jalen Duren Over 25.5 Points & Rebounds (-125)
The Pistons narrowly escaped the first round and now face off against another team that went seven games in the Cavaliers.
The Cavs play a bit more conventionally than Orlando, and even though the Magic had success limiting Jalen Duren, I expect that to change a bit against this Cleveland team.
Duren has found success against the Cavs this season. He's posted PR performances of 15, 49, and 38 in three matchups against them. He only played 21 minutes in the game he finished with 15, which was a bit of a trend to start the season.
Duren just averaged 31.8 minutes per game in a series where he struggled. So at the very least, we should see 25 minutes per game here.
When playing 25+ minutes during the regular season, he averaged 32.7 PR and exceeded this mark in 44/53 games.
While the Cavs may try and limit Duren in a similar fashion, their personnel is a bit different than Orlando’s.
I see that as a potential pre-series adjustment that we don't typically see from Cleveland. I'll back Duren to get his lick back in Game 1 tonight.
