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Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (10/27)

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We’ve got a four-game slate in the NBA tonight. That means there will only be four different players earning the first basket in a game tonight.

It’s our job to figure out who those players will be.

Here are our best bets for the first basket market in the NBA for October 27.

Top NBA First Basket Odds, Picks & Predictions

Kevin Durant

Dating back to the middle of October last year, the Brooklyn Nets have scored the first basket in 60% of games while earning nearly 50% of tips.

Last season, Kevin Durant had been the most effective first-basket scorer for the Nets, earning ten first-baskets, with six of those shots being first shots.

Although the Nets have a better chance at earning the first shot, Durant is still sitting at +600 to score the first bucket, with Luka Doncic sitting at +330.

Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving rarely scored the first bucket last season. He didn’t play in many games, but he still never really looked for his shot early.

I’ll back Durant to score tonight’s first bucket against Dallas.

Bet: Kevin Durant (+650 at FanDuel) 

Jimmy Butler
Bam Adebayo 

The Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors will match up for the first time this year. Last season, Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin scored the first baskets for Miami in this matchup.

Miami has a much higher chance of winning the tip. Last season, they secured 53% of first baskets after earning 53% of the tip.

Bam Adebayo scored 13 first baskets while taking the first shot nine times. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler nailed nine first baskets last year, all on his first shot.

Butler and Adebayo have +600 odds, while Steph Curry is sitting at +490 for the Warriors. But if you like to follow trends and analytics, Miami likely wins the tip. They’ll have a better shot at scoring points first.

Let’s take Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to score the first bucket. We’ll profit when one of them scores it.

Bet: Jimmy Butler (+600 at FanDuel)
Bet: Bam Adebayo (+600 at FanDuel)

Desmond Bane

Last season, the Kings rarely won the tip, earning just 40% of tips while taking the first shot just 39% of the time. Memphis was the opposite, reaching 62% first baskets, 71% of tips won, and 72% first shots.

Desmond Bane scored the first bucket in two of their last three meetings against the Kings. Memphis won every single tip last season against the Kings.

Bane scored 14 first baskets with 15 first shots. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson made 12 first baskets, but it took him 24 shots to do it.

Although Ja Morant has the highest probability, he scored just five first baskets last season, while Jackson, Bane, and Dillon Brooks had more.

I’ll take my chances with Bane, who is usually dominant against Sacramento.

Bet: Desmond Bane (+650 at FanDuel)

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