The 2026 NBA Playoffs continue tonight with a huge Game 5 clash between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers. With the series tied at 2-2, the spread and total offer plenty of intrigue, but the best value for tonight’s action may lie in the player prop market.
Let's get into the breakdown of our NBA player props for Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 5 on Wednesday, May 13.
NBA Player Prop Picks for Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 5
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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: Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris Over 24.5 Points & Rebounds (-120)
Tobias Harris Over 24.5 Points + Rebounds is probably my favorite bet of the playoffs so far.
The logic is simple: the Cavs are doing everything they can defensively to suffocate Jalen Duren, which leaves Tobias to crash the glass with serious intention.
Harris has cleared this 24.5 line in 9 of his 11 playoff games. He finished with 24 last game (although the stats department took one away), but he had 22 PR in the first half alone!
Tobias has rarely stayed under 20 points since the start of the postseason, and he hasn't had fewer than five boards in any playoff game.
Cleveland is daring Harris to beat them while they focus on Cade, and he is happy to oblige.
Pick: Tobias Harris Over 24.5 Points & Rebounds (-120)
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Prop: Jalen Duren
Jalen Duren Under 12.5 Points / Under 9.5 Rebounds (+162)
Jalen Duren has been a total disaster since the start of the playoffs. I’m parlaying under 12.5 points and under 9.5 rebounds for +162 on DraftKings.
He has gone under 12.5 points in all four games this series, shooting a miserable 44% on two-pointers. For a seven-footer who basically only dunks, that is pathetic.
Duren's 32% rebounding rate is just as bad. He’s getting boxed out by two guys on every play and has no answer.
This parlay has hit in two straight games, and he has a combined six rebounds in those two outings.
Pick: Jalen Duren Under 12.5 Points / Under 9.5 Rebounds (+162)
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Prop: James Harden
James Harden Over 6.5 Assists (-130)
By Matt Moore
As this series has progressed, the Cavaliers have moved Mitchell off-ball more to get him loose, which means Harden is initiating the offense and playing in isolation a ton.
Harden has gone over 6.5 assists in two of the four games, and the trend is clearly pointing toward him being the primary playmaker while Mitchell focuses on getting buckets.
The Pistons love to play drop coverage, and Harden tends to fare well against it. He wants to see the big man stay back so he can drive and look for the lob. He is going to search for Mobley and Allen at the rim all night.
Even if the Cavs struggle to shoot on the road, Harden can still get to seven or eight assists just by feeding the bigs in the pick-and-roll or finding shooters on the kickout.
Pick: James Harden Over 6.5 Assists (-130)
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Prop: Duncan Robinson
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-125)
Game 5 is a great time to buy on Duncan Robinson. He went 0-for-5 from three-point range last game because Cleveland sold out to stop him, but at home, the role players get that extra boost.
When Cade rejects a screen, it forces the defense to collapse, and Duncan is elite at relocating in those scramble situations.
The volume is there, and I expect Detroit to spam deep screens to force the Cavs to choose between leaving Tobias or Duncan open. I’m also sprinkling on 3+ threes at plus-money.
Pick: Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-125)
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Prop: Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen Under 7.5 Rebounds (+100)
In this series, the bigs are just hammering each other and clogging the paint, leaving the boards for the wings.
Allen is averaging only 4.8 rebounds per game on 11.8 chances—a 40% conversion rate. He’s stayed under 7.5 in 9 of 11 playoff games.
I’m also hunting the “Mineshaft” play here; keep an eye out for an alt-under of 5.5 rebounds.
Allen has recorded under 5.5 rebounds in over half of his playoff games, and I’m banking on the big-man gridlock continuing.
