PropBetGuy’s Monday NBA Player Prop: Buy Gary Trent Jr. Without Fred VanVleet in Game 5

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Gary Trent Jr. Points

The theme of the series between the Raptors and Sixers has been managing injuries. Philadelphia is dealing with Joel Embiid’s balky thumb, while the Raptors have managed absences of three of their best players. Gary Trent Jr. has instead been sick, playing only 36 combined minutes in the first two games of the series due to an illness

However, the sharpshooter has been back on form over the last two games. Trent notched 24 points in each game while playing 39 and 45 minutes. With Scottie Barnes dealing with his own ankle injury and Fred VanVleet already ruled out for tonight, Trent has been thrust right back into a big role.

And this is nothing new for Trent, who averaged 18.3 points per game in the regular season. In the last 41 games he’s played at least 32 minutes, Trent has blown past this line 25 times. With the Raptors already employing a tight rotation, and in a win-or-go-home scenario, Trent should be in for another night of close to 40 minutes.

It’s hard to know exactly how the Sixers will match up with Trent without VanVleet, but Philadelphia has struggled defending shooting guards. The 76ers allowed the sixth-most points and fifth-best field goal percentage over the last 30 games of the regular season.

I have Trent clearing 20 points once again.

Pick: Gary Trent Jr. over 19.5 points (play to 20.5)