🏀 Cavaliers vs. Pistons Player Props Tonight: NBA Playoffs Best Bets for Game 1
📡 SBR Edge: Harden's Motor on Offense Continues to Stall vs. Pistons
My Cavaliers vs. Pistons player props for Game 1 tonight feature James Harden Under 19.5 points (-120). He had 19 or fewer points in four of the Cavaliers' final five first-round games. My second NBA best bet is Jalen Duren Under 16.5 points (-124), as he scored 15 or fewer points in all seven of the Pistons' first-round games.
π Best Cavaliers vs. Pistons player props: NBA Playoffs Game 1
See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.
| π° Pick | π‘ Best odds | βοΈ Bet size | π§ Why I'm making this bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Harden Under 19.5 points | -120 via DraftKings | 1.2u -> 1u | Had 19 or fewer points in 4 of his final 5 first-round games |
| Jalen Duren Under 16.5 points | -124 via DraftKings | 0.62u -> 0.5u | Scored 15 or fewer points in all 7 of his first-round games |
Total wagered: 1.82 units | Max profit: 1.5 units
π° Best Cavaliers vs. Pistons prop bet
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
James Harden Under 19.5 points (-120)
I liked what I saw from Harden against Toronto early in the series, but his aggression faded as the first round wore on.
He scored 19 or fewer points in four of his final five games and took just nine shots in Cleveland's Game 7 win. With Detroit's defense - the best in the East - waiting in the second round, I don't expect him to magically become more productive on offense.
DraftKings has his Under 19.5 points at -120, but this bet is good up to -140 on the best sports betting sites.
🏀 More NBA player props
I feature James Harden, Austin Reaves, and Lu Dort in my NBA player props tonight.
π₯ More Cavaliers vs. Pistons prop picks
The Pistons have the fourth-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals.
Jalen Duren Under 16.5 points (-124)
I didn't buy into the Duren-Wendell Carter Jr. narrative as the reason Duren struggled in the first round.
The truth is likely that Duren is not as talented offensively as he appeared in the regular season, and as coaches game-plan for players in the postseason, secondary players like Duren can shrink. He went under this line in all seven of the Pistonsβ first-round games, with his best outing a 15-point performance in 37 minutes in Game 7.
Duren Under 16.5 points is -124 at DraftKings, but I'd be comfortable playing this up to -140 on the best sports betting apps.
ποΈ Most-bet NBA player props tonight
Betting insights via BetMGM.
| Player | Team | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | Lakers | Under 36.5 points + rebounds + assists | -135 |
| Deandre Ayton | Lakers | Under 18.5 points + rebounds | -115 |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | Under 21.5 points | -125 |
| Rui Hachimura | Lakers | Under 3.5 rebounds | -105 |
| Marcus Smart | Lakers | Under 2.5 rebounds | +110 |
π Cavaliers vs. Pistons same-game parlay
The Pistons' spread and Duren's Unders are negatively correlated, but recently, the Pistons haven't needed Duren to contribute significantly on offense to cover. Duren averaged just 11.3 PPG in the Pistons' three first-round covers. Bet365 prices this parlay at +280, while FanDuel offers +248.
Meanwhile, our LJ Blut breaks down why he's backing the Cavaliers to cover with his NBA play of the day.
💵 Cavaliers vs. Pistons SGP picks
- Pistons -3
- Jalen Duren Under 15.5 points
Best odds: +280 via bet365 (0.36u -> 1u)
π‘ More NBA expert picks tonight
- NBA player props tonight
- NBA play of the day: Cavaliers vs. Pistons
- Cavaliers vs. Pistons player props
- Lakers vs. Thunder player props
π΅ My betting record for NBA picks
All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since Feb. 10.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 162.5-179-4.5 | -8.02 units β | -2.3% β |
| Player props | 144-124-4 | -6.62 units β | -2.1% β |
| Parlays | 14.5-50-0.5 | -0.51 units β | -2.6% β |
| Spreads | 2-3 | -0.8 units β | -13.1% β |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units β | -4.1% β |
My betting record in the NBA postseason
Tracked since April 14.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 54.5-52-0.5 | +9.32 units β | 11.4% β |
| Player props | 45-25 | +12.91 units β | 19.3% β |
| Parlays | 6.5-22-0.5 | -1.2 units β | -14.5% β |
| Spreads | 1-3 | -2.3 units β | -52.5% β |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units β | -4.1% β |
π‘ How I'm betting Cavaliers vs. Pistons: NBA Playoffs Game 1 strategy
I would recommend focusing on what you have already seen these teams do against other opponents in the first round, rather than how they performed against one another during the regular season. Itβs going to be hard for these teams - especially since they're both coming off Game 7s - to dramatically change game plans from one round to another. That may happen by Game 3, but right now, we will likely see more of the same from Kenny Atkinson and J.B. Bickerstaff. Thereβs no need to think outside the box - just yet.
π Cavaliers vs. Pistons injuries: Game 1
Injury report last updated at 6 p.m. ET.
Cavaliers
- None
Pistons
- Kevin Huerter (adductor) - questionable
πΊ How to watch Cavaliers vs. Pistons: East semifinals - Game 1
- Date: Tuesday, May 5
- Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit)
- TV: NBCSN/Peacock
- Spread: Pistons -3.5
- Total: 215.5
- Moneyline: Cavaliers +133 | Pistons -147
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Sportsbook Review may receive a commission if you sign up through our links. Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario. 21+ only. (Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
Related Articles
