Sean Barnard breaks down his top player prop picks for Sunday’s NBA playoff matchup between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons have battled back from the 3-1 series disadvantage to force a Game 7 against the Magic. The action will travel back to Detroit for the matchup as the Pistons look to avoid being the seventh No. 1 seed to be upset by a No. 8 seed and become the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
Looking at the odds for Game 7, the Pistons enter as 8.5-point favorites and hold -325 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Magic are +260 underdogs on the Moneyline, and the game’s total is set at O/U 201.5 points.
You can check out a full preview and prediction for the matchup on DraftKings Network. But for now, let’s dive into the top player prop bets for Game 7.
The Pistons have built an identity by leaning on their defensive approach and being the tougher team in every matchup. Thompson has been a player who embodies this. His athleticism has popped in this series, and he has seen his workload expand as the matchup has continued.
Across the regular season, Thompson posted averages of 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a league-leading 2.0 steals per game. Since the postseason began, the Overtime Elite product has seen these numbers grow to 8.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He played 26.0 minutes per game in the regular season and now 32.7 minutes per game across the first six games in this series.
Thompson’s production has matched his expanded opportunity. He has pulled in at least seven rebounds in every game, eight or more in the last five matchups, and 25 combined boards over the past two games. His energy and athleticism have been off the charts, and this has translated to the box score. Thompson has clearly gained trust within the organization and is a vital part of the identity it wants to lean on. I’d expect him to continue to see a massive on-court opportunity and attack the glass with ferocity.
One of the biggest positive surprises in this series has been the level of play from Cain. Orlando has needed a spark at times, and he has stepped up to this challenge. The 26-year-old journeyman suited up for 40 games for the Magic in the regular season, posting averages of 5.4 points and 2.0 rebounds across just 12.2 minutes of action. He has been plugged into the starting lineup over the past two games and played 20+ minutes in three straight games.
Cain’s scoring numbers have not necessarily popped, but he has tallied over 5.5 points in two of the last four games. But these have been impactful points, as highlighted by the ridiculous slam dunk over Jalen Duren. He is shooting just 43.5% from the field and 22.2% on three-point attempts in this series, but his level of opportunity has expanded as the series has progressed, and his confidence has not wavered.
Too many of Orlando’s key players have looked a bit bothered by the weight of the moment for stretches in this series. Cain has not been included in this mix, and the Magic have called on him frequently as a result. The Magic are searching for answers following the concerning Game 6 collapse, and Cain will need to be a part of the solution. Based on the level of workload he is receiving and the need for offense on this roster, back him to tally over 5.5 points tonight.
As much as we can dive into the supporting cast, the Pistons will still only go as far as Cunningham can take them. The former No. 1 overall pick carries as much offensive responsibility as any player in the league, with this magnified by the lack of creation from his teammates. This was a large reason for the poor start to the series, but Cunningham and the Pistons have managed to recover. With the season on the line, expect Detroit to lean on its star at a frequent rate and for him to see plenty of shot volume as a result.
Across the regular season, Cunningham averaged 23.9 points per game on 18.6 field goal attempts. Since the postseason started, the two-time All-Star has been scoring 32.5 points per game on a league-leading 23.0 shots per contest. He has produced scoring totals of 39, 27, 27, 25, 45, and 32 across the first six games.
Cunningham has logged over 42 minutes in back-to-back games and will be in line for the same level of opportunity tonight. Orlando largely leans on a defensive identity, but it allowed the most points per game to opposing point guards across the regular season. The Magic have attempted a variety of defensive options on Cunningham, but he has largely been able to solve the puzzle. Expect him to have free rein to unload the clip and launch as many shots as it takes to put the team in a position to win.
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