We have a total of three NBA props for this Wednesday, and our staff of basketball betting experts is focused on some key players who could be in line for noteworthy performances in tonight's first-round playoff games.
Continue below for my NBA player props for Wednesday, April 30.
NBA Player Props for Wednesday, April 30
- Luka Doncic Over 31.5 Points (-125, Fanatics)
- Rudy Gobert Under 7.5 Points (-145, BetMGM)
- Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-105, DraftKings)
Luka Doncic Over 31.5 Points
Timberwolves vs Lakers, 10:00 p.m. ET
The Lakers also find themselves down 3-1 entering tonight's game. They will need great performances from Luka Doncic and LeBron James to head back to the Twin Cities.
They are combining for over 57 points per game in this series, with 30.8 per game coming from Doncic.
Dating back to last year's Western Conference Finals, Doncic has scored 31 points in six of his last nine playoff games against Minnesota. Looking at the three misses even closer, he was sick in Game 3 and only scored 17 points, while nearly missing with 28 and 31 points in the other two.
He should have plenty of opportunities to avoid the hook on Wednesday.
Through the first four games in this series, Doncic is averaging 21.5 field goal attempts, 9.5 three-point attempts, 7.8 free throw attempts in 42 minutes per game. He has shooting splits of 46%/37%/93% in the series, and I would not be surprised if he attempted 10+ free throws tonight.
When you combine how desperately the Lakers need this game, I expect a big performance from Doncic tonight.
Pick: Luka Doncic Over 31.5 Points (-125, Fanatics)
Rudy Gobert Under 7.5 Points
Timberwolves vs Lakers, 10:00 p.m. ET
Lakers center Jaxon Hayes has played eight, nine, nine, and four minutes, respectively, in the four games in this series.
Despite the lack of a rim protector and the Lakers playing a small lineup, Rudy Gobert has not been able to take advantage. He has failed to score eight points in all four games and is averaging 3.5 in this series.
However, I don't find it all that surprising.
With the Lakers' smaller lineup and strategy of swarming post-oriented bigs in the paint, I expected Naz Reid to have a bigger offensive impact in this series. Reid is averaging 13.8 points per game in this series, and he helped spark Minnesota's Game 4 fourth quarter rally with eight points and two big threes.
I like Reid again tonight, but he has had four fouls in two games in this series, and I am expecting a favorable Lakers' whistle tonight.
Even when Reid has been in foul trouble, Gobert's scoring has not picked up. He has attempted just 13 shots in the series and is converting just 30.8% of them.
Another factor is that Minnesota has been playing much of the game without a true point guard, with Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo facilitating, and Mike Conley receiving a minutes reduction. Gobert and Conley have been long-time teammates, so Conley being off the floor and not setting him up may also be hurting his offense.
If the trend continues, I do not expect Gobert to score eight points tonight.
Pick: Rudy Gobert Under 7.5 Points (-145, BetMGM)
Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds
Warriors vs Rockets, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Rockets return home down 3-1 in this series, but don't blame Alperen Sengun. In his first playoff series, the All-Star center is averaging 22.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
I cashed in on his rebounds prop in Game 3, and I am going back to the well with this combo tonight.
Sengun has struggled at times when defended by Draymond Green, but he is averaging 20 field goal attempts per game. That volume has helped him score 20 points twice in this series, including 31 on Monday.
However, he also cleared this line in Game 2 when he had 17 points and 16 rebounds. He has had a double-double in three of the first four games.
Additionally, Jalen Green has been completely unreliable in this series. He has been in single digits in three of the first four games and was benched in Game 4 after five turnovers in 25 minutes.
If Houston is going to extend this series, it may need Sengun to lead the way.
Pick: Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-105, DraftKings)
