I'm targeting three prop bets for the first day of the NBA playoffs.

The pregame narrative: Jamal Murray has always been a playoff performer and I expect him to show out against the Los Angeles Lakers in the nightcap. Elsewhere, Darius Garland is worth fading while Grayson Allen's 3-point prop

Check out these NBA prop bets for April 20.

NBA prop bets

Best Bet: Murray over 24.5 points (-115)

Some players fade under the bright lights but Murray isn't one of them.

The Denver Nuggets point guard takes things to another level in the playoffs. He averaged 26.1 points per game in the postseason last year which was a sizeable uptick from his 20.0 PPG mark in the regular season.

Murray was effective in every series but did most of his damage in a four-game sweep of Los Angeles.

The Canadian averaged 32.5 points per game while shooting 52.7% from the field and 40.5% from deep.

Murray cleared this line in each outing and had three 30-point games.

He hasn't done quite as well against L.A. during this year's regular season, but the numbers are still impressive. Murray has put up 24.7 PPG across three outings, clearing this total once while landing on exactly 24 points in another contest.

Key stat: Los Angeles allows the seventh-most points per game to point guards, according to Fantasy Pros.

Quick picks

Garland under 9.5 rebounds and assists (-120): This might seem like a paltry total for Cleveland's dynamic point guard but Garland is facing a nightmare matchup.

The Orlando Magic have the best defensive rating (108.2) and third-best rebound rate (51.8) in the NBA since the all-star break.

They also allow the fifth-fewest rebounds and assists per game to opposing point guards on the season.

Garland is averaging 9.2 rebounds and assists per game this year but he's been at his best when Donovan Mitchell has been sidelined.

He put up 3.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game with Mitchell out (10.0 RA) and 2.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists with Mitchell in (8.8 RA).

It's hard to see Garland having an extraordinary performance against Orlando.

Allen over 2.5 threes (-117): The best 3-point shooter in the NBA isn't Steph Curry or Luka Doncic — it's Allen.

The Phoenix Suns guard is connecting at a league-best 46.1% rate from beyond the arc while attempting 5.9 threes per game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a tough matchup but Allen has cleared this total in all three games agianst them this season, including twice in April.

Defending the Suns' Big Three will be Chris Finch's first priority. That should open up shots for Allen to knock down.

Picks made at 3:52 p.m. on 04/18/2024.