2024 NBA playoffs: bets, lines and stats for Saturday - ESPN

The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs begins on Saturday and perhaps the most interesting game of the slate features the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks. The 76ers had a 31-8 record in the games Joel Embiid played this season, meanwhile Jalen Brunson averaged a career high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game this season which helped the Knicks earn the No. 2 seed, closing out the season with a 13-5 record. Basketball fans should keep their eyes on this game and this prop bet that immediately caught my attention. Let's get into it.

Jalen Brunson over 10.5 assists and rebounds.

Brunson continues to be the engine that drives the Knicks with a 32.4% usage rate this season. Brunson has cleared this line in four of his past five games and averaged 13.8 potential assists and 8.4 rebound chances per game over that time frame. Even though the Knicks rank last in pace, this is still a great spot for him.

Max Strus over 7.5 assists and rebounds.

Game 1 of the Magic-Cavaliers series has the makings of a defensive-minded game since the total is only 207.5 points at ESPN BET. Both teams rank near the top of the league in fewest points allowed per 100 possessions. Strus has cleared this line in four of his past five games and in three of his past four against the Magic. He has a ton of playoff experience and should be very comfortable against the Magic.

Jusuf Nurkic over 22.5 points, rebounds and assists.

This line is a bit low for Nurkic. He has eclipsed 22.5 points, rebounds and assists in three of his past five games, while averaging 5.6 field goal attempts, 24.0 rebound chances and 7.8 potential assists per game over that span. The Timberwolves are no slouch defensively, but there is a strong chance Nurkic clears this