NBA Player Props, Breakdown, Odds, and Picks (May 5)

• Joel Embiid to show the world why he’s the 2023 NBA MVP.
• Cameron Payne to do a fine job as Chris Paul’s replacement.

We’ve got some NBA player props for you!

We did great with our NBA player props yesterday and we sure hope we can do at least as well today. There are two games on the program this evening. The first one is the Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers Eastern Conference Semifinal. The other one is the Western Conference Semifinal, in which the Denver Nuggets take on the Phoenix Suns.

Celtics vs 76ers

How to Watch:

• When: Friday, May 5, 2023, at 7:30 p.m ET
• Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Channel: ESPN

Odds

Prop Pick

It’s 1-1 in the series after two very strange games. In the first one, the 76ers beat the Celtics even though they were without the new NBA MVP Joel Embiid. He made his comeback in Game 2, but his 15 points didn’t do much to prevent Philly from getting blown out by Boston 121-87.

This time, we think he’s gonna do much better. Not only is he in better shape than two days ago, but tonight’s Celtics vs 76ers game is played in Philadelphia. The last time Embiid played at Wells Fargo Center, he scored 20 points and recorded 19 rebounds, as well as seven assists.

Nuggets vs Suns

How to Watch:

• When: Friday, May 5, 2023, at 10 p.m ET
• Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
• Channel: ESPN

Odds

Prop Pick

The Nuggets have a 2-0 lead, but the series is moving to Phoenix, where the Suns are almost always great. These guys won eight of their last ten home games, which explains why oddsmakers think they’re going to win this evening.

If they’re going to make it 2-1, they will have to score more than the last time. As a reminder, they scored just 87 points – their worst number since January 2.

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Devin Booker scored 40% of Phoenix’s points in Game 2, but his teammates were nowhere near that number. The Suns’ second-best scorer in that game – Kevin Durant – scored 24 that evening, followed by Deandre Ayton with 14.

All the others scored single digits, including Cameron Payne who’s Phoenix’s No. 7 scoring leader with a 10.3 PPG. He did spend only 16:42 minutes on the court that day, but this time, he’ll probably play a more important role. He could be the one to take Chris Paul’s place as the 37-year-old is out with a groin injury.