NBA Best Player Prop Picks, Odds, Predictions for Tuesday, May 19, 2026
After a noteworthy Game 1 clash over in the Western Conference on Monday night, it’s the Eastern Conference’s turn Tuesday as the Cavaliers and Knicks open their series at Madison Square Garden. New York prevailed in the regular-season series by a 2-1 margin, and this series should be a very closely contested one given how evenly matched the two teams are.
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.
Tuesday’s Best NBA Player Props
- Jalen Brunson (NYK) – Under Points
- Donovan Mitchell (CLE) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
- Mikal Bridges (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
2026 Playoff Prop Bet Tracker: 48-36 (+7.68 units)
Jalen Brunson (NYK) – Under Points
Brunson has unsurprisingly been a driving force of the Knicks’ success this postseason, just as was the case during the regular season. The veteran superstar is averaging 27.4 points across 37.4 minutes per contest over his first 10 playoff tilts while shooting a solid 48.5 percent, including 40.9 percent from three-point range. However, Brunson is a modest 5-5 to the 27.5 figure in that sample, and the matchup Tuesday is one that he didn’t manage much efficiency in during the regular season.
Brunson shot well under 50% across three regular-season games against the Cavaliers, averaging 25.7 points on 33.9% shooting. Brunson went 2-1 to the Under on the 27.5 in the trio of contests, and he finished with 27 points or less on 44 occasions overall since the start of the regular season. It’s also worth noting Brunson has averaged well under the 27.5 figure — 25.7 points — per 36 minutes since the start of the regular season with OG Anunoby, who’s due to return from his hamstring injury Tuesday, on the floor alongside him.
Original Line Publish: 27.5
Donovan Mitchell (CLE) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
Mitchell will come into Tuesday’s Game 1 with plenty of momentum, having starred in Cleveland’s series-clinching win over the Pistons on Sunday. Mitchell turned in 26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, one steal and one block across 31 minutes, pushing his average this postseason to 34.2 points + rebounds + assists across 35.9 minutes over 14 games. The star guard is averaging 21.4 shot attempts per game during that span as well, and Mitchell has particularly picked up steam in the last six games.
Mitchell is averaging 38.8 points + rebounds + assists across 37.0 minutes per contest in that span, also helping his offensive cause with an 85.4% success rate from the line on an average of 8.0 free-throw attempts per game. During the regular season, Mitchell lit the Knicks up for 39.0 points + rebounds + assists over three games, and New York notably comes into the conference finals allowing 14.1 made threes per home contest since the start of the regular season.
Original Line Publish: 34.5
Mikal Bridges (NYK) – Over Points + Rebounds + Assists
Bridges virtually disappeared in Games 3-5 against the Hawks in the first round, but he’s gone on to corroborate that was simply a small blip in the grand scheme of his postseason. The talented wing bounced back to average 26.0 points + rebounds + assists across 31.4 minutes per contest over the next five games while shooting an elite 67.8 percent, including 46.7 percent from distance. Bridges also went 5-o to the Over on the 18.5 figure in that stretch, making this figure one to consider jumping on Tuesday as Bridges comes in with eight full days of rest under his belt.
Bridges has the additional benefit of a strong track record against Cleveland during the regular season, as he put up 23.3 points + rebounds + assists over 33.7 minutes per contest over three games. The veteran shot 40% from three-point range in that stretch as well, and the Cavaliers come into the series allowing 14.1 made threes per road game since the start of the regular season. If Bridges is able to extend his streak of double-digit shot attempts to six games Tuesday, he should have a very solid shot of cashing this Over.
Original Line Publish: 18.5
Photo Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
