NBA Playoff Prop Bets for Tuesday, May 5

Danny Burke

Written by: Danny Burke

Last Update: Tue May 05, 2026, 12:26 pm ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Get ready for tonight's NBA Playoffs, with a handful of bets on the hardwood. Our expert dishes out four NBA prop bets for tonight's games.

nba

Cleveland Cavaliers logo
FINAL
Detroit Pistons logo

Cleveland Cavaliers

101

Detroit Pistons

111
See Picks & Statistics For The Game

After an exciting finish to Monday's opening round of the NBA semifinals, the playoff action rolls into Tuesday with another pair of games on deck.

The Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, while the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

I've got some action for both of these games, so let's go ahead and take a look at my NBA Playoff prop bets for Tuesday, May 5.

NBA Playoff Prop Bets for Tuesday, May 5

NBA Cleveland Cavaliers James Harden

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons

James Harden Under 2.5 3-Pointers Made (-107)

Starting in the Motor City, I'm going to fade James Harden's three-point production this evening.

The line is set at 2.5, and is attached with affordable odds. Through his first-round series against Toronto, Harden averaged 2.6 made threes on seven attempts per game. He averaged roughly three makes on seven attempts per game during the regular season with Cleveland.

The Detroit Pistons were the league's top three-point defense during the regular season, limiting opponents to 34.4% from beyond the arc. They did, however, rank 23rd in three-point attempt rate allowed at 39.3%.

In their first-round matchup against Orlando, those numbers improved, with a 36.4% three-point attempt rate allowed and 33.6% shooting from deep.

Either way, I'm expecting a tougher scoring night for Harden, who will be at a disadvantage in a Game 1 road environment. He's also been cold over his last two games, scoring 18 and 16 points while failing to hit more than one three in either. Let's look for those underachievements to persist in tonight's contest.

Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 Assists (-110)

My other player prop in this matchup will also be an under, but with a different star in Cade Cunningham.

His assists line of 9.5 is simply too high. He averaged seven assists per game through that first-round series against Orlando, eclipsing this mark just twice, with 12 in Game 7 and 11 in Game 2.

Cunningham has found his scoring groove over the past three games, putting up 32, 32 and 45. During that stretch, he logged 12, three and five assists.

He'll look to be a primary scorer rather than a facilitator tonight.

4.9/5 Review Rating
Bonus & Benefits
Up to $1,250 + 50 Free Slots Spins
See our review »
$1,250 Welcome Bonus
Bet Live on Your Favorite Sports
Earn More with Rebel Rewards!
Play Now & Claim Bonus »

Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder

LeBron James Under 7.5 Assists (-111)

We'll keep things in the assist department and look to fade LeBron James' production in that category as well.

He averaged 8.3 assists in the series against Houston, a slight uptick from his season average of 7.2.

Normally, I'd only look to play this under if the line were 8.5, but I still see value on under 7.5 for tonight's matchup.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a gauntlet, and LeBron will have limited weapons to distribute to. Getting Austin Reaves back helps, but without Luka Doncic, this offense takes a hit.

James can only do so much, and he'll likely be under constant pressure and frustration trying to carry the load at the age of 41. What he's doing is still remarkable, but it's hard to trust the supporting cast in a hostile road environment against the best team in the league.

Lu Dort Over 1.5 3-Pointers Made (-115)

Finally, we'll dish out an over for tonight's NBA playoff props.

I'll be investing in Lu Dort's ability to connect on at least two three-pointers this evening.

In the Oklahoma City Thunder's four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns, Dort logged 24.5 minutes per game and averaged two made threes on 5.5 attempts. He hit this mark in the first three games before failing to knock one down in Game 4, when he attempted just two shots from deep.

There should be plenty of opportunity for Dort to get comfortable from beyond the arc tonight, and I'm banking on him capitalizing on those chances.

NBA Playoff Prop Bets:

NBA Record: 203-170-1 (+12.39 units)

Still Didn't Get Your NBA Fix?

Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.

Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly

Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER

Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News

See our Matchup - Free Picks & Stats
Danny Burke
Danny Burke

Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.