NBA playoffs, Lakers-Warriors spread; LeBron player prop: Best Bets for Thursday (May 4)

Each day, one of our experts at bet.NOLA.com will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks in Louisiana are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.

A reminder for those who haven’t signed up yet: New users can get a risk-free bet at Caesars Sportsbook, meaning that if your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet for the same amount up to $1,250. New users also get 1,000 Caesars Rewards points to redeem for hotel or casino credit.

Here are our best bets for Thursday, May 4:

TOP PLAY

The play: NBA Western Conference semifinals, Lakers +7 over Warriors

The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)

The book: Caesars Sportsbook

Time/TV: 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Our take: Well, bucking the public helped us on Wednesday, and has been our go to when trying to stop a down streak. We’re going to the well once again.

Unlike Wednesday when Aunt Mabel figured the Sixers were great in Game 1 without Joel Embiid, so they surely would cover the eight-point spread at Boston in Game 2, she thinks just the opposite with the Lakers chances in a critical second game Thursday night in San Francisco.

Don’t be fooled: The Golden State team is not the same one that won it all last year. And quite frankly, I haven’t given the Lakers enough credit this year.

Not only do I think the Lakers keep this tight and make the Warriors sweat until the finish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they win this one outright (not bad value at +220ish).

They are playing with as much confidence as any other in the NBA, and if they take a 2-0 lead, they could even win this one in four or five games.

LeBRON AS COLD AS ICE

The play: Player prop, LeBron James to make fewer than 2.5 3-point field goals

The odds/bet: -155 ($15.50 to win $10)

The book: DraftKings

Our take: James has been fantastic in the playoffs, especially in the Lakers’ victories, but he has been anything but great from beyond the arc. He has made two or fewer 3-pointers in six straight games after making three or more in six in a row.

In fact, in the six games in which he has made six total 3s, he is 6-of-41 from back there, which could see him try fewer long shots.

HOW WE’VE FARED

Tuesday’s best bets

NBA playoffs: Celtics -8 over Sixers (WON $30)

PGA, Wells Fargo Open: Xander Schauffele to finish in the top 20 (PENDING)

Tuesday’s profit/loss: +$30 (1-0, 1 pending)

Total for the week: +$85.50 (4-1, 1 pending)

Total for May: +$85.50 (4-1, 1 pending)

Total for 2023: -$396.30 (92-106, 1 pending)

NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)

Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, a $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).