The Indiana Pacers face off against the Milwaukee Bucks today in Game 1 of their first round Eastern Conference Playoff series on Saturday afternoon, and I'm targeting three players to have strong performances to open the postseason.
Continue below for my NBA player prop picks for Pacers vs. Bucks on Saturday, April 19.
NBA Player Props for Saturday, April 19
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 Points (-115)
- Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 Rebounds (-135)
- Myles Turner Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (+130)
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 Points
Bucks vs Pacers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Giannis Antetokounmpo should have a big series offensively, especially to start, given Damian Lillard's absence. Giannis has scored over 31.5 points against Indiana in two of four games this season. However, all of these were with Lillard active, including a 30-point performance and a near miss on New Year's Eve.
The Pacers were seventh in pace this season and allowed the third-most points in the paint. Giannis will see a defense that's better than many think — 13th in the NBA this season — but it's still a layup line, at times, and Giannis will be looking to go downhill all series.
Cutting his three-point attempt rate to a career low of .048 has made him more efficient as a two-point scorer; the only hang-up is his free throw shooting, which finished a career-worst 61.7 percent, but he led the league with 10.6 attempts per contest.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 Points (-115)
Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 Rebounds
Bucks vs Pacers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Where does Tyrese Haliburton go over? The points are unreliable right now. The assists are high and juiced. The threes are at 3.5, and, again, they are unreliable. But the rebounds? That looks appealing.
Haliburton has had four or more boards in seven of 13 games, but against the Bucks, he has had 7, 3, and 6 across his most recent three outings.
Without Lillard, this is meaningful in this regard, and Haliburton could secure rebounds when being tagged by other guards from Milwaukee, likely Gary Trent Jr. to start, because Milwaukee will be looking to space around Giannis, opening up long-rebounding opportunities for guards — leading to Pacers' transition basketball.
Pick: Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 Rebounds (-135)
Myles Turner Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made
Bucks vs Pacers, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Bucks allow the fourth-most threes per game, and because of Haliburton's playmaking, Myles Turner should have pick-and-pop opportunities from the top of the key, especially if the Bucks are dropping.
Turner has made three or more threes just once in four tries against the Bucks, but he's had five, five, eight and 10 attempts in those four games. Last year, he had three or more makes in four of six — the first four games of the series — and attempted around seven per.
Turner, similarly, should get a healthy amount of opportunities to spread a Bucks defense that is vulnerable against the three-ball.
Pick: Myles Turner Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (+130)
Pacers vs. Bucks Player Prop Picks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 31.5 Points (-115)
- Tyrese Haliburton Over 3.5 Rebounds (-135)
- Myles Turner Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (+130)
