3 NBA Player Prop Bets for Pacers-Celtics Game 1

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways -- from taking advantage of them straight up to measuring a player's potential to produce in daily fantasy basketball on FanDuel. Here, we're going to focus on the former.

Using FanDuel Research's daily basketball projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- as a guide, here are some NBA player prop bets that look appealing via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Please note: lines and projections are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Prop Bets

Aaron Nesmith Over 14.5 Pts + Reb (-113)

The Indiana Pacers will visit the Boston Celtics for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics come in as 10.5-point favorites for a matchup that features a 221.5 over/under.

From a betting perspective, I think this matchup could serve Aaron Nesmith well.

In the regular season, Nesmith averaged 16.0 combined points and rebounds (PR) per game. He's carried those numbers into the playoffs, netting 15.4 PR per postseason game and clearing 14.5 PR in 8 out of 13 outings.

He's also been playing 32.7 minutes per playoff game, making the odds on his PR prop quite enticing. In games where Nesmith has played at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 19.2 PR and eclipsed 14.5 PR at a 75.0% rate (24 out of 32 contests). These -113 odds, on the other hand, imply just a 53.1% probability.

Nesmith could find particular success against his former team. Boston surrendered the eighth-most three-point attempts (3PA) in the regular season and has let up the third-most tries per game in the playoffs. Nesmith, meanwhile, nets 47.9% of his points from downtown and shot an above-average 5.6 3PA against Boston in the regular season.

He's off the heels of a series where he shot just 29.2% from long range despite shooting at a 41.9% accuracy in the regular season.

Look for Nesmith to find his three-point groove tonight. Pair that with the 52.1% of his points that he is netting from elsewhere plus the 9.2 rebound chances he is averaging per playoff game, and it's easy to see the value in the over.

For what it's worth, he managed 19.2 PR through five regular-season games against the Celtics.

Jayson Tatum First Quarter Points Leader (+125) / Jayson Tatum Over 7.5 First Quarter Points (-140)

Jayson Tatum averaged a towering 32.5 points in four games against Indiana this season and should be in for another big scoring night in this fast-paced and defense-averse matchup.

While I'm interested in Tatum's scoring performance as a whole, I think we can find the most value in turning to his first-quarter props.

Through 10 postseason first-quarters, Tatum is averaging 8.5 points off of 10.5 minutes. No player on either Indiana or Boston is netting this many points or minutes in the first quarter, and it's not particularly close.

Tyrese Haliburton averages the next-most at 6.9 points (10.3 minutes) while Jaylen Brown trails a bit behind with 6.6 points (9.0 minutes).

The Pacers let up 30.6 points per first quarter (third-most) in the regular season, while Boston only surrendered 27.1 points in this span (sixth-fewest). Boston also comes in as a 3.5-point favorite in the opening period, so it's natural to favor a Celtic in this market.

Tatum should come out aggressive against an Indiana team that has ranked in the top five of pace and the bottom five of defense for the duration of this season.

I also like Tatum's chances to draw some contact, as he averages 2.3 free-throw attempts (FTA) in the opening quarter (next-most averages 0.7 FTA) and 2.7 FTA in home playoff games.

With +125 odds available, I feel comfortable taking a swing at Tatum leading all scorers by the first quarter's end.

You can also find Tatum Over 7.5 First Quarter Points at -140. He's cleared this prop in five of his last six games despite going up against teams (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers) that gave up the third-fewest and seventh-fewest points per game in the opening quarter. He could find even more luck against the Pacers, who surrender the third-most points and eighth-most FTA in the first 12 minutes.

Jayson Tatum Rebounds Leader (+130)

Let's stick with Tatum for this next prop since there seems to be a stark lack of competition in the lead rebounder market.

In the playoffs, Tatum is averaging 10.4 rebounds from 15.1 rebound chances per game.

Pascal Siakam (+550 odds) averages the next-most at 7.5 boards while Al Horford (+500), Jaylen Brown (+750), and Myles Turner (+650 odds) trail behind, averaging 7.3, 6.7, and 6.6 rebounds, respectively.

Tatum has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in 8 out of 10 postseason games, while either Horford or Brown made this mark in a combined 1 out of 20 playoff contests. I'm not concerned about any in-team competition here.

Siakam and Turner don't exactly scare me, either. While they and Tatum are the only three players who are seeing at least 12.0 rebound chances per game, there is plenty of reason to believe Tatum can outdo both of them tonight.

Turner has been seeing 12.5 rebound chances while Siakam has been seeing 13.4 rebound chances each game. Not only has Tatum had more opportunities with a 15.1 rebound chance average, but that number has spiked since Kristaps Porzingis hit the sidelines.

In six games without Porzingis, Tatum is netting 16.3 board opportunities.

We should see Tatum log more minutes than either Siakam or Turner, and history shows that Boston should have more defensive rebound chances than Indiana in this one.

The Celtics force opponents to shoot the ball at the second-worst clip in the league. The Pacers, meanwhile, cede the highest opponent field goal percentage in the league. Naturally, this has resulted in Boston grabbing the second-most rebounds while Indiana has mustered the third-fewest boards per game.

All signs point to Tatum having this market cornered. FanDuel Research's projections expect him to reel in 9.2 boards in Game 1. They have Siakam slated to record the next-most at 7.9 rebounds.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.