Another set of Game 3s are on the 2025 NBA playoff schedule for Friday night, pitting the Boston Celtics against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center, the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, and finally the Los Angeles Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
Here are six star-studded expert player prop picks for these matchups, including an OVER on Jaylen Brown's scoring (-110) on April 25, 2025.
Jaylen Brown OVER 23.5 Points vs. Magic (-110 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ET
Jayson Tatum is once again listed as doubtful after injuring his wrist in Game 1, and there's still no timetable for when he'll return to action. Thankfully Orlando's scoring punch is so putrid that the Celtics can still emerge from this series without his services, and Jaylen Brown is talented enough to slot into that No. 1 role and help shoulder the load without his fellow superstar wing by his side.
Brown saw his scoring jump by 20 points from Game 1 to Game 2, just recently putting up 36 during Boston's 109-100 victory on Wednesday after shooting 12-of-19 from the field, 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and 7-of-8 at the charity stripe in 42 minutes. He averaged 22.9 points in seven outings without Tatum during the regular season, going OVER 23.5 points four times.
Paolo Banchero OVER 27.5 Points vs. Celtics (-114 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ET
Of the 186 points the Magic have scored through two games against the reigning champions, 68 have been contributed by forward Paolo Banchero, accounting for 36.5 percent of the total offense. Add in Franz Wagner's 48 points, and you're looking at 69 percent of what Orlando is mustering up on that end of the floor. The team is just devoid of any viable options beyond its frontcourt tandem, but in the world of player props, that's of no concern to bettors who are cashing in on their respective output.
Banchero has yet to score fewer than 32 points and shoot worse than 48 percent from the field versus Boston, having played 42 or more minutes in each of the opening two games. He'll only need 28 points to notch an OVER here, and returning home to where he averaged 26.1 points in 2024-25, which is higher than his road average of 25.7 points, will only help this number get cleared a third-straight time.
Pascal Siakam OVER 19.5 Points vs. Bucks (-128 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Even with Indiana hitting the road for Game 3, this wager for an OVER on Pascal Siakam's scoring prop doesn't need to be rationalized too hard. He scored 25 and 24 points in Games 1 and 2 of this best-of-seven series, respectively, and has now scored at least 20 points in all six meetings with Milwaukee this season.
The Pacers own the No. 2-ranked offense this postseason at 121.7 points per 100 possessions, and Siakam's 24.5 points per game ranks 12th overall amongst his peers. Since the Bucks have yet to demonstrate an ability to truly knock the three-time All-Star off his game, and with oddsmakers keeping Siakam's props relatively tame all things considered, we'll continue to ride the OVERs here until the wheels fall off.
Giannis Antetokounmpo OVER 20.5 Rebounds + Assists vs. Pacers (+112 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Should Milwaukee ultimately come up short and bow out in the first round to Indiana once again, it won't be due to a lack of effort on the part of Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose averaged 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 65.1-percent shooting through two games. The return of Damian Lillard in Game 2 provided The Greek Freak a sorely-needed No. 2 scorer, although it didn't change the Bucks' fortunes in the win-loss column, but Lillard's presence with some days rest heading into Game 3 could shift momentum while also aiding Antetokounmpo's individual production, as well.
In Game 1 sans Lillard, the former league Most Valuable Player had 12 rebounds and just a single assist across 38 minutes in a 19-point road loss. In Game 2 with Lillard back, Antetokounmpo put forth 18 rebounds and seven assists in just under 40 minutes of action. Extending into the end of the regular season, Antetokounmpo has now gone OVER 20.5 combined boards and dimes in five of his last seven appearances for Milwaukee.
LeBron James UNDER 1.5 Made 3-Pointers vs. Timberwolves (+115 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET
Of the 16 teams across both conferences participating in the first round, the Lakers rank second from the bottom in 3-point efficiency at just 30 percent with their 10.5 makes being tied with the Houston Rockets for 12th overall. Luka Doncic is the only one on the roster knocking down better than two per game against the Timberwolves, and LeBron James - who I'm wagering on here - has the worst percentage of anyone in purple and gold to have made a triple at just 20 percent (2-of-10).
James made exactly one in Games 1 and 2 at Crypto.com Arena, respectively, and when he played in Minnesota back on Dec. 2, 2024, the 40-year-old veteran put up a goose egg from deep going 0-of-4 for just 10 points in what was undoubtedly his poorest offensive showing of the season. It may not be that ugly here in Game 3, but we haven't seen enough from the King to believe two or makes from the perimeter is in the cards.
Rudy Gobert UNDER 19.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Lakers (-114 at Sportsbook)
Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET
I consistently made it a point of emphasis when previewing this series that Rudy Gobert was either going to see his own numbers decline or be a complete non-factor who gets played off the court more often than not. Now he's certainly offered value as a defender around the basket, but as far as his scoring and rebounding is concerned, The Stifle Tower has had his box scores stifled by his own limitations when the Lakers elect to play small ball.
Gobert is only averaging four points and six rebounds, having yet to score more than six points, grab more than six rebounds, or play 30 minutes even once against Los Angeles thus far. Oddsmakers are evidently optimistic that being in front of a home crowd will inspire his play with his combination prop at 19.5 points and boards considering he hasn't come close to even matching that in two games, maxing out at 12 (six points and six rebounds) in Game 2. I don't have that same mindset, unfortunately, which is why I'm going UNDER.
