NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Monday (2/24)
We’ve got eight games on the NBA slate tonight. That gives us plenty of options for first-basket wagers. Here are the two I’m most confident in.
Follow along and make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
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Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel 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.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz
Donovan Clingan will likely get another start at center for the Trail Blazers tonight. The former UConn star has only participated in the opening tip 13 times this season. In those 13 attempts, he’s won the tip in only 23% of games. Beyond that, the Trail Blazers have scored the first basket in just 39% of games this season.
On the flip side, he’ll take on Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. Kessler has won the tip in 55% of games and has way more experience with the tip this season. Kessler has participated in 44 opening tips and has helped the Jazz score the first basket 52% of the time. Those are much better numbers than what the Blazers are putting up.
Portland has conceded the first basket in 61% of games this season. In addition, every position but the point guard has scored the first basket in at least 20% of games.
Kessler has scored the team’s first basket in 25% of games and has five first baskets. Lauri Markkanen also has five first baskets and more first field-goal attempts. Ultimately, Kessler has more value at +600 odds.
Pick: Walker Kessler (+600)
Charlotte Hornets vs. Sacramento Kings
The Hornets will have Jusuf Nurkic compete for the tip against Domantas Sabonis of the Kings.
Nurkic has won the tip in 80% of games started this season, including his time with the Suns. Meanwhile, the Hornets have also scored first in 51% of games, which should only increase if Nurkic continues to win tips at this rate.
On the other hand, Sabonis has won the tip in only 33% of games this season. As a result, the Kings have scored the first basket in 43% of games this season.
Additionally, Nurkic has already won the tip in two head-to-head games this year against Sabonis. It’s likely the Hornets win the tip and get the first shot up.
That said, the Kings have allowed the first basket to shooting guards 25% of the time. They’ve also given up the first basket to point guards 22% of the time and small forwards 22% of the time. Those are the positions we’ll target for the Hornets.
Charlotte’s Josh Green has scored the first basket five times this season and is +1000 to score first tonight. Meanwhile, he’s also made the team’s first basket in 20% of games this season and has attempted the first field goal attempt in 16% of games this year. Green has some value tonight.
Pick: Josh Green (+1000)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: