NBA Finals First Basket Scorers & Picks: Knicks vs. Spurs (Game 1)
The New York Knicks will head to San Antonio to battle the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It’s one of the most anticipated NBA Finals in recent memory. Below, we’ll discuss the first basket market and give out our top NBA Finals first basket scorers for tonight.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA Finals First Basket Scorers & Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Who will score the first basket in today's NBA games? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today's best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have the advantage in the first-basket market. Victor Wembanyama won the opening tip in 91% of games during the regular season, and it carried over into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, he’ll compete against Karl-Anthony Towns, who won the opening tip in just 43% of games in the regular season.
Still, despite the major difference in opening tips won, the Knicks actually scored first in more regular-season games. That said, the Spurs will likely earn the first shot attempt in this game and every other NBA Finals game. Wembanyama already won the opening tip in two earlier meetings against Towns and the Knicks in the regular season.
Therefore, I’ll ride the Spurs to score first. The Knicks allowed the first basket to point guards 29% of the time during the regular season. Shooting guards and power forwards each scored first 21% of the time against the Knicks in the regular season.
Wembanyama is always the top candidate to score first, but on paper, he doesn’t look great against the Knicks. De’Aaron Fox recorded 10 first baskets in 72 regular season games and took the team’s first field goal attempt 22% of the time. At +700 odds, Fox is the play.
Pick: De’Aaron Fox (+700)