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Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/17)

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With only three games on the NBA slate tonight, we’re on a mission to figure out who the first scorers in each game will be.

Here are the best long shots for First Basket bets in each game.

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Portland Trail Blazers

The Nets and Blazers have each only won the tip-off 40% of the time over their last ten games. However, the Nets have scored the first field goal in 60% of their games, while the Blazers have only scored the first field goal in 50% of games.

On top of that, the Nets have only needed two shots to score their first field goal, while the Blazers have needed 2.8 shots to score their first basket of the game through those ten games.

Based on these stats, the Nets are likelier to score the first basket. Most people would automatically think that Kevin Durant would be the play for the Nets. But did you know that Nic Claxton has five of the team’s first field goals over the last 10 games? He also had two of the game’s first field goals over the last ten games.

Claxton would be the longshot play here.

Bet: Nic Claxton (+600)

San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings

The Spurs have won the tip 70% of the time over the last ten games. They’ve also scored the first field goal 60% of the time and have needed 2.2 shots per game to score their first field goal over the last ten games.

Meanwhile, the Kings have only scored first in one of their last ten games. They needed 3.4 shots to score their first field goal.

There’s a much higher chance that the Spurs will score first. Although Keldon Johnson has scored four of the team’s first field goals and three of the game’s first field goals in the last ten games, I still like Devin Vassell more. Vassell has scored the team’s first field goal in three of ten games and has scored the game’s first field in two of the last ten games.

He’s also taking 1.2 shots of the first three shots by the Spurs and has more volume early.

Bet: Devin Vassell (+750)

Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers and Pistons have each won the tip-off 60% of the time over their last ten games. But the Pistons have only scored 30% of the game’s first field goal, while the Clippers have scored the first field goal 40% of the time over the last ten games.

Los Angeles has needed 1.6 shots to score its first field goal, while the Pistons have needed 2.4 shots. Los Angeles has the edge, especially at home.

Most of the public would hop on Paul George in this spot. But pay attention. Marcus Morris has scored five of the team’s first field goals in the last ten games and has put up 1.3 shots of the team’s first three shots over the last ten games. Morris has also scored two of the game’s first field goals over the last ten games.

Back Marcus Morris at +500.

Bet: Marcus Morris (+500)

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