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NBA Finals Game 3 player props: Can Klay get right for Warriors?

Nathaniel S. Butler / National Basketball Association / Getty

We cashed on both of our player props in Game 2, as Jayson Tatum (28 points) and Jordan Poole (17) both played more aggressively than they did in the series opener. Here are our favorite props for Wednesday's contest:

Klay Thompson under 18.5 points (+102)

Talk of Thompson turning things around in Game 3 further intensified after his comments earlier this week about watching "Game 6 Klay" to get back in rhythm. I'm not buying it.

It isn't that easy for Thompson to just flip a switch and get back to his old self, especially as his body readjusts to the toll of a long postseason run. We've seen the effects in this series: The Warriors star is shooting a paltry 10-of-33 (30.3%) from the floor and 4-of-15 (26.7%) from deep, including a 4-of-19 showing with one made three in Game 2.

Some of that is Thompson missing open shots, but he also hasn't had many clean looks thanks to the way the Celtics' defense swarms him on the perimeter, forcing him to attempt to beat it on the drive. He hasn't proved capable of doing that after two major injuries, and I don't see that changing in Game 3.

Jayson Tatum over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists (-113)

There are two constants following a Celtics loss this postseason: They always bounce back, and Tatum is always a major reason why.

Boston's leading scorer has consistently been a panacea to his team's ills in these playoffs - and not just in the scoring department. After the Celtics' previous six losses, he averaged 31.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. He tallied at least 42 combined in those stats in five of six games - with a combined 40 in the lone outlier.

The Warriors' defense didn't have many answers for Tatum as a scorer Sunday - he hit six threes en route to 28 points - but his teammates struggled to carry the load around him. Expect him to record more assists and stuff the stat sheet in a game his team can ill afford to lose.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.

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