🏀 Thunder vs. Lakers Player Props Tonight: NBA Expert Picks & Best Bets (May 9)
The Thunder and Lakers meet for Game 3 tonight in Los Angeles, with tipoff from Crypto.com Arena set for 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC).
The Thunder have gone 2-0 straight up and against the spread in this series and enter tonight as an 8.5-point betting favorite. Despite Oklahoma City's recent dominance, my Thunder vs. Lakers player props target LeBron James as part of our NBA picks and best bets for Saturday.
🏀 Best Thunder vs. Lakers player props tonight: NBA picks for May 9
See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Player | Prop bet | Units | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James, F, Lakers | Over 21.5 points (-107 via BetRivers) | 1u -> 0.93u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| LeBron James, F, Lakers | Under 6.5 rebounds (-115 via bet365) | 1u -> 0.87u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Total wagered: 2 units | Max profit: 1.8 units
💰 Best Thunder vs. Lakers prop bet
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
LeBron James Over 21.5 points (-107)
LeBron James won't go down without a fight, and he's proved this postseason that he's still one of the top players in the game when the stakes are highest. James has averaged 23.6 points per game in the playoffs, clearing this scoring line six times.
James has an advantage against a Thunder team without Jalen Williams. They don't have the size to slow him down once he gets up to full speed. James has scored 50 points through two games.
With this line listed 22.5 everywhere else, I'll scoop up the bargain at BetRivers.
LeBron James player prop trends
Here's a look at how James has performed recently, as well as against the Thunder:
| Bet | Best odds | Last 5 games | Last 5 vs. Thunder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 21.5 points | -107 via BetRiveres | 4-1 ✅ | 4-1 ✅ |
| Over 6.5 rebounds | -105 via BetMGM | 1-4 ❌ | 1-4 ❌ |
| Over 7.5 assists | -113 via FanDuel | 2-3 ❌ | 1-4 ❌ |
| Over 1.5 three-pointers made | +112 via FanDuel | 2-3 ❌ | 2-3 ❌ |
💸 More Thunder vs. Lakers expert picks
Our LJ Blut backs the Lakers to cover the spread with his NBA play of the day.
🔥 More Thunder vs. Lakers prop picks
The Lakers have the sixth-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals.
LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds (-115)
I don't believe these two props contradict each other at all. James can score, but not have an advantage on the glass. That's been the case against the Thunder this year.
James has grabbed six rebounds on 15 total chances through the first two games of this series. Counting the regular season, James has averaged 4.5 boards on 8.5 chances against the Thunder. He's failed to clear this rebound line in all four head-to-head meetings.
James has only cleared this rebound line once in his previous five playoff games, averaging four boards. It's clear that James is conserving some energy by not attacking the glass as much.
🏀 More NBA expert picks
Corey Scott features Austin Reaves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Marcus Smart in his NBA player props tonight.
🎟️ Most-bet Thunder vs. Lakers player props tonight
Betting insights via BetMGM.
| Player | Team | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | Under 29.5 points | -110 |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | Over 9.5 rebounds + assists | -140 |
| LeBron James | Lakers | Under 6.5 rebounds | -120 |
| Marcus Smart | Lakers | Over 10.5 points | -135 |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | Under 0.5 blocks | -130 |
🚀 Thunder vs. Lakers same-game parlay
Go big or go home, right? With the Lakers staring down a potential 3-0 series deficit, I expect an inspired effort on Saturday night. If they are going to win a game in this series, tonight might be their best shot. By adding the Lakers' moneyline to my favorite player props, bet365 offers a massive +1250 payout for this three-leg SGP.
💵 Thunder vs. Lakers SGP picks
- LeBron James Over 22.5 points (-112)
- LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds (-115)
- Lakers ML (+300)
Best odds: +1250 via bet365 (0.1u -> 1.25u)
💵 My betting record for NBA picks
All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 28.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 38-46 | +6.58 units ✅ | 11.1% ✅ |
| Player props | 33-25 | +8.18 units ✅ | 14.6% ✅ |
| Parlays | 5-20 | -0.6 units ❌ | -24% ❌ |
💡 How I'm betting Thunder vs. Lakers
I'm betting on the greatest basketball player of all time in what might be his final playoff series. What are your plans for the weekend?
James won't go down without a fight, and he has real matchup advantages against the Thunder, so I really like his scoring line. It has barely moved from the closing total of 20.5 in each of the first two games.
Speaking of movement, James' rebound line remains the same. There are legitimate reasons why he's not crashing the glass as much lately, so I think it's worth betting the Under.
🚑 Thunder vs. Lakers injuries
📺 How to watch Thunder vs. Lakers
- Date: Saturday, May 9
- Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
- TV: ABC
💡 More NBA expert picks tonight
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- NBA play of the day: Thunder vs. Lakers
- Thunder vs. Lakers player props
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