NBA Best Bets: Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook for May 31

We’re well into the NBA playoffs, and the heat on the action is officially all the way up. With a couple of great games to choose from, let’s survey DraftKings Sportsbook for some player props, totals and sides to bet. You can follow me @KennyDucey on Twitter for any late adds.

Here’s what jumps out on Monday’s slate.

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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards

Sixers -9 (-105)
Sixers Team Total over 119.5 (-120)

The Sixers have a stranglehold over this series with a 3-0 lead, and Monday should be the final nail in the coffin for the Wizards. Washington has seen its already weak defense look increasingly fatigued and poor in recent games, allowing the Sixers to score over 120 per game in this series. The Wizards have no one who can defend Joel Embiid in the post — not Daniel Gafford, not Robin Lopez and certainly not Alex Len — and now they’ve got to worry about the health of guards Russell Westbrook and Ish Smith, who are both questionable heading into this one. With those two banged up, I don’t see this one being particularly close. I don’t see any way the Wizards stop the Sixers, who should dominate and get high-percentage looks. I also think this one could start with a frantic pace for the Wizards, who led the league in that department this year, giving Philly even more of a chance to blow the doors off Washington in a closeout game.

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Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Over 225.5

I admittedly don’t have a strong grip on this series, and I don’t think anyone really does. The Grizzlies have played the Jazz better than anyone has expected, yet they have failed to cover in the two games which included Donovan Mitchell. What’s been consistent in this series is the over hitting, and I think that trend continues on Monday.

The over is a good way to back the Grizzlies to fight hard vs. the Jazz with the added protection against a late run by Utah. While Memphis hasn’t covered in the past two games, it has been in a great position to before falling to a great closing team. There’s no reason for me to believe a similar script won’t unfold here with how efficient this Grizzlies offense has been. The Jazz have shown enough cracks on the defensive side of the ball that Memphis’ bigs should continue to have modest success down low against Rudy Gobert and help push for a huge Game 4 win.

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All betting odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jetsfan196) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

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