We're still searching for our first Look of the Day winner this week, and we're feeling good about our chances on Wednesday night. Let's head to the NBA playoff slate and target our favorite prop bet for Game 5 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It's clear that Luka Doncic isn't 100 percent healthy right now. The Mavericks superstar is still nursing knee and ankle injuries, and he's taken a few hard falls in this series that have caused him to get up hobbling.
That's partly why Doncic is averaging only 22.0 points per game and shooting just 38.9 percent from the field in this series. The other reason for Doncic's scoring dip is how the Thunder can defend him. Oklahoma City is hounding Doncic with long, physical defenders in Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That trio is making it hard for Doncic to create his own open shots, especially because he doesn't have the explosive first step he normally does.
The Thunder have made it a point to shut down Doncic's scoring and turn him into a facilitator. It's working, as the point guard is averaging just 19.3 field-goal attempts per game in the series after averaging 23.6 in the regular season. Doncic will need to be ultra-efficient to hit his over in Game 5, so we'll bet against that happening.
More must-reads:
Bark Bets is Yardbarker's free daily guide to the world of sports betting. You'll get:
Subscribe now!