NBA Player Prop Bets: James Harden Stealing Victory for Rockets in Game 5 Playoffs
Rewritten Article:
It's playoff time, baby! Tonight, both the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers are fighting tooth and nail to avoid elimination. We've cooked up a scorching lineup of expert player prop predictions for these adrenaline-pumping showdowns. Let's dive in!
Here are four hot-off-the-grill picks to spice up your viewing experience, including a sizzling points over for Warriors forward Jimmy Butler at the Toyota Center on April 30, 2025.
Fred VanVleet, Points Over 13.5 vs. Warriors (-114 at Sportsbooks)
Game Preview: Golden State Warriors meet Houston Rockets, 7:30 p.m. ET
With Jalen Green turning cold as ice, averaging 8.5 points on 36.8% shooting after nailing 38 points in Game 2, it's time for Fred VanVleet to take the hot seat. VanVleet's shooting has remained red-hot during this stretch, draining 48.1% of his attempts and 11 total threes in Games 3 and 4, despite a couple of losses. Alperen Sengun led Houston in scoring with 23 points per game, but his scoring efficiency is a far cry from VanVleet's (41.3%).
When it's crunch time, home is where the heart is—and we're hoping VanVleet keeps his hot streak going with the season on the line. Unfortunately, Games 1 and 2 were lackluster, with VanVleet shooting 6-of-27 at a pathetic 22.2% for 17 points in his own backyard. With that said, OVER at 14 points is smart, as it's right in the middle of what he's been scoring over the past four games. Green needs to break free from his funk if he plans on outscoring VanVleet, but it's unlikely with VanVleet being relied upon to keep the Rockets in the game.
Jimmy Butler, Points Over 18.5 vs. Rockets (-130 at Sportsbooks)
Game Preview: Golden State Warriors meet Houston Rockets, 7:30 p.m. ET
Jimmy Butler's pelvis injury may have forced him out of Game 2 after just seven minutes and kept him on the sidelines for Game 3, but the 35-year-old seems to be as good as new after putting up a team-high 27 points, hitting all 12 free throws, and contributing with 5 rebounds and 6 assists to keep the Warriors on the cusp of reaching the second round for the second time in three years in Game 4. His performance serves as a stark reminder of why the organization swallowed hard and executed the blockbuster trade with the Miami Heat in the first place.
When the spotlight's on, "Playoff Jimmy" never disappoints, and we can expect him to put the foot down on the throat of any team holding onto the tiniest hope. He's scored at least 25 points in the only two games he's fully participated in against the Rockets, and he needs just 19 points to OVER in this matchup. Butler has gone OVER 18.5 points in six consecutive outings, if we exclude Game 2 from the equation.
Austin Reaves, Points + Assists Under 23.5 vs. Timberwolves (-136 at Sportsbooks)
Game Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves face Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET
With the Timberwolves debating whether to pin Jaxson Hayes on the bench, it's looking like Austin Reaves will have a chance to unleash his full potential in this series. However, he still hasn't managed to make a lasting impression, with a respectable 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, but no standout performances to speak of.
Reaves' combined points and assists prop at Crypto.com Arena for Game 5 is set at 23.5. He's gone UNDER this mark three times already against the Timberwolves. The one time he achieved an OVER was in Game 3, striking with 20 points and 4 assists in 41 minutes. With the Lakers needing their superstars to step up, playing time and opportunities will likely be scarce for Austin Reaves, making this UNDER bet an intriguing play.
Rudy Gobert, Points Under 7.5 vs. Lakers (-130 at Sportsbooks)
Game Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves face Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET
The "Stifle Tower" Rudy Gobert has been battling a slump, and his numbers are down across the board. His interior defense and rebounding have kept him in games, but it hasn't been enough to help the Timberwolves against a smaller Lakers team. Gobert's minutes have dropped from 33.2 per game in the regular season to just 26.3 against the Lakers, and even with his lofty status, he's only attempting 3.3 shots per game, which is less than half of his season average of 7.1.
Gobert's playing time could see a boost if the Timberwolves slip into the conference semifinals, but for now, we're sticking with our UNDER bet streak. Gobert has scored just four total field goals at a dismal 30.8% efficiency, and the eye test confirms that he's finding it tough to get open when the ball comes his way. In this high-stakes matchup, we don't anticipate Gobert's UNDER streak ending anytime soon.
- To the delight of the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler's injury recovery seems to be on track, as he managed to score a team-high 27 points against the Houston Rockets in Game 4.
- Despite his recent dip in form, Jalen Green will aim to compete with Fred VanVleet's scoring output, who has been in impressive form with 11 threes in the last two games.
- In a surprising turn of events, Austin Reaves, who has yet to make a significant impact, might be given a chance to shine against the Timberwolves due to Jaxson Hayes potentially being benched.
- Rudy Gobert, battle-weary due to a slump in form, might find it challenging to maintain his scoring average against the Los Angeles Lakers, given his decreased playing time and efficiency.
