We have three NBA props for this Friday, and our staff of basketball betting experts is focused on key players who could be in line for noteworthy performances in tonight's Game 6 between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors.
Continue below for my NBA player props for Friday, May 2.
NBA Player Props for Friday, May 2
- Stephen Curry Over 25.5 Points (-115, Fanatics)
- Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-125, BetMGM)
- Fred VanVleet Over 15.5 Points (+100, Fanatics)
Stephen Curry Over 25.5 Points
Rockets vs Warriors, 9:00 p.m. ET
There has been much of the photo going around showing off Stephen Curry's swollen thumb.
While yes, the greatest shooter in NBA history having a thumb injury is significant, the reality is Curry has been playing with the injury for months now. His thumb injury did not stop him from scoring 31 points in Game 1 or 36 points in Game 3.
Curry has scored at least 25 points in six of his last 10 games. He has also cleared this line in nine of his last 15 games against the Rockets and finished with 24 in another.
Curry has made at least three triples in eight of his last 10 games. If head coach Steve Kerr gets him involved off-ball rather than as the primary initiator up top, that trend should continue.
Additionally, the Warriors have the opportunity to close out the Rockets and advance to the second round to face Minnesota. The extra rest will be valuable for the veteran group led by Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler.
Curry has averaged 28 points per game in 35 potential closeout games in his playoff career. I expect him to lead the way at home.
Pick: Stephen Curry Over 25.5 Points (-115, Fanatics)
Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds
Rockets vs Warriors, 9:00 p.m. ET
I played Alperen Sengun's points and rebounds combo and it was on track to cash before the game got out of hand. The Rockets went up by 31 in the third quarter and a few minutes later Kerr pulled his starters to preserve them for Game 6.
Sengun exited at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter and while he returned after the Warriors' reserves made a run in the fourth, by then he was out of rhythm.
Still, Sengun is averaging 20.8 points and 11 rebounds per game in the series. He has recorded 32 points + rebounds in three of the first five games in this series.
The Rockets still have the size advantage in this matchup and are outrebounding the Warriors by seven per game in the series.
Sengun has been a major factor in that with at least nine rebounds in all five games. The Rockets will also need his offense to stave off elimination and return to Houston for a potential Game 7.
Pick: Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-125, BetMGM)
Fred VanVleet Over 15.5 Points
Rockets vs Warriors, 9:00 p.m. ET
In the first two games of this series, Fred VanVleet needed both to clear this line. He scored just 17 points and shot just 6-for-27 in the two games. Since then, he has scored 17 points in each of the last three games, including 25 points in Game 4 and 26 points in Game 5.
VanVleet is now averaging 17 points per game in the series and is second on the Rockets behind Sengun. If he gets to that average again, he will cash this line. However, it is also necessary for the Rockets that he does so.
VanVleet is one of the veteran leaders of an otherwise young Rockets team making its first voyage into the playoffs as a group.
He also has been known for hitting big shots throughout his career. That includes in the NBA Finals against the Warriors when he was still with the Raptors.
He will also not be well liked in the Bay Area because he has cleared this line in each of the two games at the Chase Center in this series. I expect him to go 3-for-3 with that tonight.
Pick: Fred VanVleet Over 15.5 Points (+100, Fanatics)
