The NBA Playoffs will resume with an excellent three-game slate on Thursday, April 23 — and we have you covered with player prop predictions for all three of today's postseason contests.
Our NBA props for Thursday are targeting Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray and more. Continue below for our top NBA player prop picks for today's playoff games.
NBA Player Props for Thursday, April 23
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
| 9:30 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. | |
Knicks vs. Hawks
CJ McCollum Over 19.5 Points
This year's Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks series is heating up.
The Hawks knotted the series up at 1-1 with a come-from-behind win in Game 2, and both teams are well below their regular-season scoring averages. However, CJ McCollum has elevated his game this postseason.
The Atlanta combo guard averaged just under 19.0 points while splitting time between the Washington Wizards and Hawks during the regular season, but has quickly become his team's most reliable playoff scorer early in the first round.
The Lehigh product has averaged 29.0 points on 54.8% shooting through Games 1 and 2, while attempting 21.0 field goal attempts per contest. Nearly half of those attempts (9.5 per game) have come from beyond the arc. McCollum is hoisting up at least five more shots than every other Hawks player right now, which includes Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
NAW's efficiency will likely pick up at some point, but there's a good chance McCollum will still be asked to pick up some slack for Dyson Daniels, who is shooting just 33.3% from the field in the series.
Pick: CJ McCollum Over 19.5 Points (-111)
Cavaliers vs. Raptors
Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 Points
The Toronto Raptors have their backs against the wall after opening the playoffs with a pair of double-digit losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, they'll get a chance at redemption in Game 3 on Thursday. They'll likely have to do something to slow Donovan Mitchell down to accomplish that feat, though.
Mitchell is one of the league's most prolific playoff scorers ever and boasts a career average of 28.4 points per game in the postseason. He's averaging 31.0 points per contest against Toronto in the first round this year and shot the ball well from everywhere.
Mitchell has made 55.8% of his field goals and 47.8% of his 3-pointers while attempting 21.5 shots per game in the first round. He's only managed to attempt eight free throws in the series so far after attempting 6.1 per game during the regular season, so there's still room for him to improve.
The Raptors had a top-10 scoring defense during the regular season, but the Cavaliers are on another level right now as the league's highest-scoring team in the playoffs. Cleveland has shot a league-high 53.7% from the field over its previous two games.
Pick: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 Points (-112)
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Jamal Murray Over 26.5 Points
Nikola Jokic's scoring has taken a step back in the Denver Nuggets' first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The three-time MVP is controlling the game, but his co-star has been the most aggressive offensive player.
Jamal Murray, a known playoff riser, is now averaging 30.0 points on 23.5 attempts per game this postseason. Only Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey can top that number so far, but neither is getting to the charity stripe as much as the Canadian.
The former Kentucky Blue Devil's shooting splits aren't great, but he has made all 18 of the free throws he's attempted through Games 1 and 2 against Minnesota. He can't help but raise his intensity against the Timberwolves, for some reason.
If you count the playoffs, Murray has averaged 31.0 points while putting up 25.3 shots per contest in his previous six meetings with Minnesota. Look for the Blue Arrow to keep it up at the Target Center on Thursday, where he dropped 43 points in October.
