Magic vs. Bulls: Today’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Prop Bets

After what I hope was a lucrative Super Bowl everyone, we can jump back into betting the NBA. Let's keep 2023 going right by winning some money in first-basket bets. As always, there is a lot of variability when it comes to betting the first basket but keep in mind, these bets are to maximize your profit in the long run with some being mere lottery tickets.

Here are my favorite first-basket options for tonight's slate. Below is a closer look at Magic vs. Bulls.

And here are our other top picks for Monday:

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

Monday's Best NBA First Basket Prop Bets: Magic vs. Bulls

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Magic vs. Bulls

With Nikola Vucevic struggling in the tip win rate column, I usually fade the Bulls to score first and it has been a strategy working for me so far so why stop now?

Carter may have the shortest odds to score first tonight but it is still a solid value. Winning tips at a 57 percent rate, I'm taking a Magic player to score first against this Chicago defense. Orlando goes down low early with their center scoring their first bucket at a 30 percent rate. It helps that the Bulls allow opponents’ first buckets to come from the center position at nearly the same exact rate.

Carter is one of the easier choices I've had when betting first buckets, so I'm putting an entire unit on this one.

Pick: Wendell Carter Jr. (+500)

Last Week: 0-2 (-1.0U)
This Year: 2-14 (+1.5U)

Whether you're new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section - including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners - or head to more advanced strategy - like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread - to learn more.

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

All opening tip and first basket data courtesy of NBA First Basket (@NBAFirstBasket)

Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.