Lakers vs. Suns: The best player prop bets for Game 2

The champs looked like chumps on Sunday afternoon, as the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Phoenix Suns 99-90 in Game 1 of their first round series. The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 points, and were badly out-rebounded 47-33.

It was the first postseason game for three of Phoenix’s starters, but you would never know from the poise and composure they displayed. Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton combined to score 65 points as the Suns jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

The Lakers are narrowly favored tonight, but that’s more of a reflection of their championship pedigree than any glimmer of competency they showed in Game 1. LeBron James & Co. will need to dig deep, or otherwise they’ll find themselves in an 0-2 hole in a hurry.

We’ve examined the matchup closely and have selected the three best players props to wager on.

Deandre Ayton Over/Under 14.5 points

L.A.’s starting frontcourt boasts 27 All-Star appearances, 20 All-NBA selections, and four MVP awards, but it was Suns center Deandre Ayton who was the best big man on the court on Sunday. The 22-year-old pivot scored 21 points on 10-11 shooting, and also chipped in 16 rebounds for good measure.

Although Ayton is unlikely to replicate that performance tonight, he should score 15 points or more. The Arizona alum averaged 16.3 points per game against L.A. in 2020-21,and had one of his finest games of the season against the Lakers on March 21, when he finished with 26 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 32 minutes.

Ayton has the energy and mobility to give the Lakers fits, and will use both qualities to maximum effect this evening.

Pick: Over 14.5 points (+100)

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Anthony Davis Over/Under 25.5 points

We’ll be the first to admit that Anthony Davis stunk worse than a garbage scow at high noon in Game 1. The eight-time All-Star connected on just five of his 16 shot attempts and finished with a playoff career-low 13 points.

But here’s the thing about great players; they seldom have two bad games in a row. That’s certainly the case for AD, who followed up a four-point clunker on May 7 by scoring 78 points combined in his next two outings.

25.5 points is a high projection, but Davis surpassed that total in 12 of his 36 regular season games this season, including a 42-point outburst against Phoenix on May 9. He understands he needs to be better, and he will be tonight. The Suns should consider themselves warned.

Pick: Over 25.5 (-113)

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Chris Paul Over/Under 27.5 points, rebounds, and assists

It feels odd picking against the Point God, but Chris Paul looked like a shadow of himself after suffering a stinger in his right arm during the second quarter of Game 1. The usually sure-handed playmaker finished with just seven points, eight assists, and four rebounds, and shot multiple airballs and appeared to have little feel for the ball.

Paul is reportedly still sore, and will likely be feeling the effects of his injury when he takes the court tonight. He’ll find a way to impact the game on both ends of the court, as he always does, but it’s foolish to think he’ll be his regular dominant self. Take the Under all the way until CP3 rounds back into form.

Pick: Under 27.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-113)