We have three NBA props for this Tuesday, and I'm focused on some key players who could be in line for noteworthy performances in Game 1 between the Timberwolves and Thunder tonight.
Continue below for my NBA player props for Tuesday, May 20.
NBA Player Props for Tuesday, May 20
- Julius Randle Over 19.5 Points (-110, BetMGM)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 5.5 Points (-105, Fanatics)
- Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (+120, Fanatics)
Julius Randle Over 19.5 Points
Timberwolves vs Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET
After struggling at times in the playoffs with the Knicks, Julius Randle's postseason renaissance continued against the Warriors.
In the Timberwolves' five-game series victory, Randle averaged 25.2 points per game. He is up to 23.9 points per game through 10 playoff games, scoring 20 points in eight of them.
Randle took advantage of smaller frontcourts against the Lakers and Warriors. The Thunder have Chet Holmgren and former teammate Isaiah Hartenstein on the interior, but he still may have a matchup edge.
The Thunder are an elite defensive team, but they lack a big forward to guard players of Randle's size, and he is quicker than Holmgren and Hartenstein.
Players like Lu Dort and Alex Caruso are capable of those assignments, but at least one of them will have their hands full with Anthony Edwards.
Randle only played in one of the regular season meetings against Oklahoma City this season, but with the Knicks, he scored 25 points in four consecutive games against the Thunder.
Randle has been aggressive this postseason, averaging about 17 field goals per game. He is shooting 51% from the field, but even a 7-for-17 performance will put him in range to clear this line with his usual volume of threes and free throw attempts.
Pick: Julius Randle Over 19.5 Points (-110, BetMGM)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 5.5 Points
Timberwolves vs Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET
After averaging 9.4 points per game in the regular season, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been up and down. He is shooting 35.5% from the field in the playoffs.
He still averages 6.5 points per game, which would clear tonight's line. However, six points are usually not in question when he plays Oklahoma City.
Alexander-Walker has scored eight points in 10 of his last 13 games against the Thunder, averaging 11.6 points per game in that span. That includes all four regular-season meetings this year when he scored eight, 14, 18, and 21 points.
When he plays the Thunder, he has added motivation going against his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The OKC superstar mentioned how close they are, calling him a second brother. However, he also made it clear he would not be taking it easy on him.
With a berth in the NBA Finals on the line, Alexander-Walker likely feels the same way, and that starts in Game 1.
He should see minutes, as he will be needed to defend his cousin and/or Jalen Willians. If he plays 20 minutes —he is averaging 19 in the playoffs— I like his chances to score six points tonight.
Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 5.5 Points (-105, Fanatics)
Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals
Timberwolves vs Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET
Minnesota averages 13.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs after recording 13.7 in the regular season. How well it protects the ball will be an important factor in this series.
The Thunder led the league in turnovers forced per game in the regular season (16.3) and the postseason (17.2). They force over 10 steals per game, with Cason Wallace playing a big factor.
Wallace averaged 1.8 steals per game in the regular season and has 1.5 in the playoffs.
In Game 6 against the Nuggets, I cashed on him for a steal in a combo with Jamal Murray. However, he had three steals in that game. He has recorded at least two in each of his last four games and in five of his last six games.
Wallace has not matched that hit rate against Minnesota, but he did have four steals in one of the meetings this season.
Edwards and Randle handle the ball a ton for Minnesota and usually combine for six turnovers. Alexander-Walker, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid each average at least 1.5 turnovers per game in the playoffs.
Wallace is a threat playing the passing lanes and is also a pest on-ball. I like his chances of racking up two more steals tonight.
Pick: Cason Wallace Over 1.5 Steals (+120, Fanatics)
