On Tuesday night, the Phoenix Suns will play host to the Milwaukee Bucks for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Let’s take a closer look at the top Bucks vs. Suns Game 1 player prop picks and make some predictions for this July 6, 2021 NBA Finals matchup.

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Bucks vs. Suns Player Prop Picks (NBA Finals Game 1)

The Phoenix Suns are set to appear in their first NBA Finals in 28 years as they’ll welcome the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to town for the first two games of this series. The Bucks will play in their first NBA Finals series since 1974 as they prepare to take the court with the status of their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo up in the air. This matchup will feature veteran point guard Chris Paul leading a young Suns team anchored by young stars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, as well as a Bucks team led by the aforementioned Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.

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The Bucks are coming off a six-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals against the upstart Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, the story of that series devolved into one of injuries to Giannis and Hawks superstar guard Trae Young, who was hobbled in Game 6 and never appeared to settle into the contest. To Milwaukee’s credit, they managed to win both of their games without the two-time NBA MVP and earned an NBA Finals berth nonetheless.

The Suns won their Western Conference Finals series in six games as well, dispatching of the Paul George-led Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.  Phoenix won the decisive Game 6 in blowout fashion, taking the Clippers  out in a 130-103 result. After missing the first two games of the series due to entering the league’s Health & Safety Protocols, Chris Paul returned to the lineup and helped his team win two road games, including an incredible 44-point performance in Game 6.

Game 6 Best Bets
Jrue Holiday to Score 20+ Points (-120, BetMGM)
Devin Booker to Score 30+ Points and Make 3+ Three-Pointers (+220, FanDuel Sportsbook)
Pat Connaughton to Make Over 1.5 Three-Point Field Goals (-222, FOX Bet)

Devin Booker and Chris Paul to Combine for Over 49.5 Points (-143, FOX Bet)

Regardless of whether two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo plays for the Bucks, Milwaukee will have their hands full with the Suns’ backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The duo have played off each other incredibly well all season, with the veteran Paul elevating his young superstar partner to the NBA Finals. Paul and Booker have upped their scoring game in each game since the return of CP3 after a two-game stint on the league’s Health & Safety Protocols:

  • Game 3 @ LAC: Booker 15, Paul 15 (30 total)
  • Game 4 @ LAC: Booker 25, Paul 18 (43 total)
  • Game 5 v. LAC: Booker 31, Paul 22 (53 total)
  • Game 6 @ LAC: Booker 22, Paul 41 (63 total)

It’s also worth noting that in the two games prior to Paul’s absence, the duo combined for 55 points in Game 3 and 71 points in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets.

An even better sign of what’s to come can bee found in the two matchups played between these teams in the regular season. When Phoenix and Milwaukee met on February 10, Paul and Booker combined for 58 points. In their second regular season matchup, the players combined for 46 points. Although 50+ points might seem like a high threshold to meet, the historical and recent scoring trends give this one a solid chance of hitting at -143 odds.

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Deandre Ayton to Record a Double-Double (-200, BetMGM)

Suns center Deandre Ayton could end up being the biggest beneficiary of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s doubtful status ahead of Game 1. Brook Lopez represents a decent challenge, as he can work his way into the paint and hit the occasional three-pointer, however his defensive ability leaves a lot to be desired.

Ayton took advantage of some poor interior matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers, leading to him recording four double-doubles in six games against the Clippers, including in each of his last three games. Ayton averaged 15 points and 16.7 rebounds per game over that three-game stretch.

In the first regular season matchup between the teams, Ayton scored 17 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in just 29:50 of  game action. In the second meeting between the teams on April 19, Ayton was even better, dropping 20 points, pulling down 13 rebounds, dishing out two assists, and blocking a shot.

While -200 odds are a bit pricey, this one could be worth making a larger wager on in order to maximize your payout.

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Mikal Bridges to Score Over 10.5 Points (-124, FanDuel Sportsbook)

Mikal Bridges has had a solid playoff run, given it’s the first time he’s ever played in the postseason. After scoring in double figures in nine of his team’s first 11 playoff games, Bridges has only hit double-digits once over his last five games. The matchup against the Clippers was far from advantageous and Bridges saw  his minutes get cut back to just under 26 minutes per game over his last two contests.

The absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo can have a domino effect on the Bucks, whose defensive rotations could be exploited by the prototypical 3-and-D. Bridges had plenty of success against the Bucks in the regular season, averaging 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in two meetings. It stands to reason that Bridges’ defensive versatility will play a large role in head coach Mike Budenholzer’s game plan, which will mean an uptick in minutes. With that raise is minutes should come a similar increase in field goal attempts. Expect Bridges to get at least eight field goal attempts at home in Game 1.

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