Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Understanding Public and Money
Expert Picks

Chet Holmgren has faced the Spurs eight times this season, averaging just 10.9 points per game, and has exceeded 13.5 points just twice, going for 14 and 17. In the Western Conference Finals, he's scored no more than 14 points and taken no more than 10 shots, averaging 8 shots per game. In 13 career games vs. Wemby and the Spurs, Holmgren is averaging 12.6 PPG.

Caesar’s. With Jalen Williams ruled out, I’m actually going to turn to his namesake. Jaylin Williams has seen an uptick in minutes as a backup big in the Thunder’s desperate attempt to find some complementary offense without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Playing 22 minutes in each of the last two games, Jaylin has attempted 13 total threes as a floor spacer, trying to draw Victor Wembanyama away from the bucket. He’s a more attractive offensive option than Isaiah Hartenstein, and a better threat from the outside than Chet Holmgren. At +115 or better, I like this spot.

Isaiah Hartenstein has dished out 10 assists the past three games. More important, his playing time has increased to the point where we can expect about 20 minutes. That’s because he’s provided solid interior defense. Assuming the Thunder shoot better at home following a disastrous Game 4, I like Hartenstein to finish with 3-plus assists.
Only 185 points were scored in Game 4. That was ugly. But the previous three games delivered us 231, 235 and 237 points. That’s more on par with what to expect. On the year, they allowed a combined 218.4 ppg, and poured in 238. This number is just too low.

Spurs power forward Julian Champagnie had 11, 8 and 10 points in the opening three games before laying an offensive egg in Game 4, like most everyone else. He was 1-for-7 from the field and 0-for-5 on 3’s. But he’s not a focus of the OKC defense, and shot 8-12 times in the previous games, nearly all 3’s. The line on his 3’s is 1.5 but the odds are nearly -200, so we’ll go this route for a half-unit.

After playing just 12 minutes in Game 1, Isaiah Hartenstein finally got the shot he deserved and had PRA totals of 18 and 12 in Games 2 and 3. His Game 4 total of 10 wasn’t bad considering he managed just 18 minutes. He averaged 12.9 R/A on the season. Scoring could be a challenge, but Hartenstein can still get the ball and work some inside-out game, and crash the glass.

Devin Vassell is earning raves for his all-around play in this series, which includes tenacious defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. What jumps out to me is Vassell looks healthy and explosive and goes 100 percent on every single play. He has cleared this prop total in four of his last five games and, barring a blowout, should play at least 35 minutes.

Caesar’s. De’Aaron Fox collected 17 total rebounds over the last two contests, with 23 total rebound chances. Schematically, it makes sense - he’s primarily tasked with defending one of the Thunder low usage spot up shooters, and has been crashing hard on missed threes and after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives. He’s also played 30 minutes in each game this series - looking healthier than fellow injured guard Dylan Harper - and was the last Spur starter on the floor in the Game 4 blowout. It’s a lot of juice, but I have him projected at 5 rebounds, and would bet this for a partial unit at 4.5 at plus odds.

DraftKings. After clearing this combined line in the first three games of the conference finals, Cason Wallace fell one rebound + assist short in Game 4. However, the opportunities were there - Wallace only converted 4 of 12 rebound chances and 1 of 5 potential assists. With Ajay Mitchell remaining out for Game 5, and Jalen Williams still in question, I do like Wallace to continue to see ample minutes in Game 5. He’s cleared this line in 8/12 playoff games, including all six in Oklahoma City. Look for Wallace to bounce back in Game 5.

With the Spurs blowing out the Thunder in Game 4, Devin Vassell played a series low 33 minutes. He still finished with 13 points and six rebounds, despite only attempting seven shots. For the entire series, he is averaging 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds. He was more productive on the road than at home during the regular season. He averaged 12.5 points and shot 40.8% from the field at home, compared to 15.3 points a game and 46.4% shooting on the road. In what should be a closer game, I like Vassell’s chances of hitting this over.

De’Aaron Fox has played exactly 31 minutes in both games since returning from his ankle injury. While he didn’t score more than 15 points in either game, he made significant impacts in other areas. After posting seven rebounds and six assists in Game 3, he had 10 rebounds and five assists in Game 4. Over five regular season games against the Thunder, he averaged 3.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Look for him to remain productive in both departments.

This is a significantly discounted combination line for De’Aaron Fox who has eclipsed this in his last six postseason games, including both appearances in the Western Conference Finals. After missing the first two games of this series, Fox logged 31 minutes in consecutive games and had Game 4 not been a blowout he was set to play more, indicating he appears to be operating without limitations. I was very encouraged by how he’s played and think this combo line presents strong value.

Chet Holmgren has yet to clear this prop total in the Western Conference Finals, his high being 19. The Thunder are getting killed when Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein share the floor (minus 36 in 68 possessions). But they're excelling when only one of them plays. So Mark Daigneault is trying to split their time. Holmgren has not played more than 28 minutes since Game 1. This is already a tough matchup for Holmgren, and Hartenstein continues to play well. Look for Holmgren to play 26-28 minutes again and fall short on this combo line.
Team Injuries









