NBA Best Player Prop Picks, Odds, Predictions for Thursday, May 21, 2026
After the Knicks mounted a historic comeback to stun the Cavaliers in Game 1 on Tuesday, the two Eastern Conference heavyweights square up for battle in the Big Apple again Thursday in Game 2. As was the case in the series opener, we should be in store for some noteworthy individual performances.
As customary, we zero in on three player props to consider for tonight’s action. Also, be sure to check out our daily NBA betting trends page for odds and data on every game.
Thursday’s Best NBA Player Props
- OG Anunoby (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds
- James Harden (CLE) – Over Points
- Mikal Bridges (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
2026 Playoff Prop Bet Tracker: 51-38 (+8.41 units)
OG Anunoby (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds
Anunoby was about as reliable as it got throughout most of the postseason before suffering a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the final two games of the semifinal-round series against the 76ers. Thanks to New York taking care of business with a clean sweep of Philly in that series, the veteran forward had plenty of time to recover and was able to fill his usual role in Game 1 against Cleveland. Anunoby definitely had some rust, as he went just 2-for-9 from the floor, but he mostly made up for it with an 8-for-10 showing from the free-throw line.
Anunoby had shot 61.9%, including 53.8% from three-point range, over his first eight postseason games before Monday’s sluggish performance from the field. Therefore, there’s high probability of a resurgence Thursday against a Cavaliers squad that surrendered 48% shooting overall to the Knicks in Game 1 and that’s conceding 14.0 made threes per road game since the start of the regular season. Anunoby still finished with 18 points + rebounds despite his difficulties Tuesday, and he’d blown past this 19.5 number with 28.9 points + rebounds over 35.3 minutes per game in his first eight playoff contests.
Original line publish: 19.5
James Harden (CLE) – Over Points
Harden had several stellar performances in the semifinal-round series against the Pistons, but he faltered in Game 7 against Detroit and continued his slump versus the Knicks in Game 1. However, as is often the case with star players — particularly in high-stakes environments — Harden is likely to bounce back before long, and in the meantime, we can consider exploiting what are now increasingly modest lines for him. Such is certainly the case in Game 2, when Cleveland will be playing with plenty of urgency to avoid an 0-2 series hole.
Harden has shot an abysmal 26.9% from the floor in his last two games — including an inconceivable 7.1% from behind the arc — but he’s still gotten to 12.0 points per contest in that very atypical sample. Prior to that serious funk, The Beard had put up 20.9 points on 42.7% shooting in his first 13 postseason games, scoring at least 18 points in 11 of those contests. He also averaged 19.3 per game against the Knicks in three regular-season games, going 2-1 to the Over on the 17.5 in that sample.
Original Line Publish: 17.5
Mikal Bridges (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
Bridges has been highly efficient for multiple games, a wave we’ve been able to ride successful on a couple of occasions by jumping on the Over for his points + rebounds + assists props. The veteran wing was it again in Game 1 versus the Cavaliers despite the return of OG Anunoby from a hamstring injury. Bridges showed zero rust from the Knicks’ week-plus layoff, nailing seven of his 11 shots from the floor on his way to 24 points + rebounds + assists across 42 minutes.
Bridges is now shooting 67.1%, including 47.4% from downtown, since Game 6 of the first-round series against the Hawks. Bridges is averaging 11.5 field-goal attempts per game in that span when Anunoby has been available, going 4-0 to the Over on this prop in that sample. He’s 6-0 to the Over overall in the entirety of the sample, and given his extended stretch of blistering hot shooting, there’s a good chance he’s punching another successful ticket again Thursday.
Original Line Publish: 19.5
Photo Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
