Bucks-Suns Game 1 Player Props, Picks: Best Bets for Chris Paul & Co. (July 6)
The 2021 NBA Finals matchup has been set, pitting perennial All-NBA guard Chris Paul and his Suns against two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Bucks. Along with what should be superb entertainment value, this fantastic matchup offers a plethora of chances to make some money. And even if you don’t prefer traditional moneyline, spread, and over/under betting, you will have countless opportunities to place wagers on team and player props.
If you are a regular reader of RotoGrinders, you already know which way we recommend betting on Bucks vs. Suns Game 1 odds of this championship series . Now, we want to help you bet the right props, which can low-key serve as nice bankroll builders for beginner NBA bettors.
Today, I’ll break down my best bets on player and team props from Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals. So, let’s get down to business and hopefully make some money in the process!
Bucks-Suns Player Props & Picks
Brook Lopez, Over 14.5 Points (-134)
| Suns vs. Bucks | Bucks +6 |
| Time, TV | 9:00 p.m. ET, ABC |
| B. Lopez | Over 14.5 Points |
| Best Book | BetMGM |
When I prepared our readers for Bucks-Hawks Game 6, I told them that the best bet of the playoffs was Brook Lopez finishing with OVER 23.5 total points, rebounds, and assists. The veteran center proceeded to pour in a playoff career-high 33 points, to go along with seven rebounds. Talk about pounding the over!
Lopez should be very active again on Tuesday evening against the Suns. If Milwaukee stands any chance of beating Phoenix, it will have to get physical and stay aggressive around the rim. Suns center Deandre Ayton continues to improve on the defensive end of the floor, but he still appears susceptible to savvy drive-and-kicks and quick alley-oops.
The veteran Lopez is wise beyond his 33 years, and he has developed tremendous chemistry with point guard Jrue Holiday. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Lopez dropped 20 points tonight, all within five feet of the basket.
Chris Paul, Over 1.5 Three Pointers (-143)
| Suns vs. Bucks | Suns -6 |
| Time, TV | 9:00 p.m. ET, ABC |
| C. Paul | Over 1.5 Three-Pointers |
| Best Book | BetMGM |
Chris Paul has had an illustrious career, and he’s almost certainly going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He’s been an All-Star 11 times, an All-NBA selection 10 times, and an All-Defensive selection nine times. He finished four different seasons as the league leader in assists, and six different seasons as the leader in steals. But he’s never won the elusive Larry O’Brien trophy.
For the Suns, if a championship is meant to be, it’s up to CP3. He runs the offense, controls the tempo, and picks Phoenix up when it’s down. I expect the Bucks to be aggressive from the jump tonight, both in transition and from the three-point line. Paul will have to match Milwaukee’s energy, and make some shots from deep to keep up.
Paul has drained two or more three-pointers in five of Phoenix’s last eight games, and he hit a whopping seven treys in the Suns’ Western Conference Finals Game 6 elimination of the Clippers. I think he will hit at least three from long range tonight, despite the defensive presence of Jrue Holiday.
Deandre Ayton, Under 11.5 Rebounds (-110)
| Bucks vs. Suns | Suns -6 |
| Time, TV | 9:00 p.m. ET, ABC |
| D. Ayton | Under 11.5 Rebounds |
| Best Book | BetMGM |
Deandre Ayton has grown by leaps and bounds this season, and Phoenix suddenly looks like the smartest franchise in the league for taking him at No. 1 over Luka Doncic and Trae Young in the 2018 NBA Draft. He may not have been the best player in that draft class, but it’s blatantly obvious now that he was the best fit for the Suns.
Ayton has reached double-digits in points in Phoenix’s last 10 playoff games, and he has finished with double-digit rebounds 11 times this postseason. He has been an absolute beast down low, using every bit of his 6-foot-11, 250-pound frame to pound the glass. However, he might run into some trouble blocking out the veteran big man trio of Brook Lopez, P.J. Tucker, and Bobby Portis.
If you look at Ayton’s game logs this postseason, he has grabbed 14 or more boards in six different games. But he has grabbed 11 or fewer boards in Phoenix’s remaining 10 playoff games. He only exceeded 11 boards once against Denver, a great rebounding team. The Bucks are the best rebounding team in the NBA, averaging an insane 49.9 boards per game this postseason. I think Ayton gets held to 10 boards tonight.
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