NBA

Clark's 'Caps: NBA East Final Play-In player prop predictions, 5/20

USA Today Sportsbookwire

The Eastern Conference side of the NBA postseason play-in tournament concludes Thursday with the 8-seed Washington Wizards (34-38) hosting the 9-seed Indiana Pacers (34-38) at Capital One Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we'll highlight the top NBA player prop predictions.

Washington led the Boston Celtics heading into the second half of their first play-in game before the Wizards were outscored 66-46.

It was a stinker for both of Washington's stars- SG Bradley Beal and PG Russell Westbrook-who shot a combined 37.2% from the field.

Indiana romped the Charlotte Hornets 144-117 in the 9 vs. 10 matchup. The Pacers had eight players score double figures, shot 55.2% from the field (45.7% from three) with 35 assists and outrebounded the Hornets 54-36.

Thursday's NBA player prop bet predictions

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.

Indiana Pacers PF Domantas Sabonis OVER 24.5 points (-140)

There's some value on Sabonis' scoring prop because balled out in the three Pacers-Wizards meetings this season and should look to bounce back from a subpar scoring effort in Indiana's first play-in game vs. Charlotte.

In the three Pacers-Wizards regular-season meetings this season, Sabonis averaged 32.3 points per game on 66.0% true shooting (.613/.222/.731) and he's been playing his best basketball this season down the stretch.

Sabonis is averaging his season-best in points per game, offensive rating and true shooting percentage in May.

While he had an off-night Tuesday against the Hornets, I'm sure you won't hear him complain since the Pacers played amazing team offense; however, Sabonis missed five shots within seven feet of the basket vs. Charlotte, so he got quality looks, and he has to assume if he doesn't step it up tonight as Indiana's only All-Star then his team is going home.

BET Domantas Sabonis OVER 24.5 points (-140) for 1 unit.

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Washington Wizards PG Russell Westbrook OVER 13.5 assists (-140)

The tempo of the first three Pacers-Wizards meetings this season was through the roof, totally fitting Westbrook's style and he responded by lighting up the Pacers.

For instance, Westbrook is averaging 20.0 assists per game on below-average usage, and has the highest offensive rating vs. any team (127) in his three games against Indiana this season.

Furthermore, in May, Westbrook is averaging 16.1 assists per game on the lowest usage rate he's had of any month this season (these numbers don't count the play-in game).

Westbrook has gone Over 13.5 assists in seven of his 10 games this month, including the play-in game.

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Also, the slowest pace of a Pacers-Wizards regular-season meeting was 108.6 May 8, but Washington leads the Association in pace (104.1) and Indiana is fourth at (101.6).

Both teams combined for at least 256 points in each meeting this season because more possessions should equal more points and Westbrook has been the biggest benefactor of the faster tempo played in Pacers-Wizards games.

BET Russell Westbrook Over 13.5 assists (-140) for 1 unit.

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