NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (1/22)

There are some nice spots in the NBA with tonight’s first basket slate! Let’s have a big start to the week!

Make sure to check out our NBA first basket cheat sheet for even more betting advice.

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    Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets

    (Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

    Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic

    The Cleveland Cavaliers have won the tip in 73% of games. They’ve also scored the first field goal in 57% of games and have the first field goal attempt in 63% of matchups. Cleveland has also needed just 1.6 field goals to score their first one.

    Meanwhile, they’ll take on an Orlando Magic squad that has earned the tip in only 33% of games this year. Orlando has added the first field goal in only 43% of games and has the game’s first field goal attempt in 38% of matchups.

    It’s taken the Magic 1.9 field goals to score their first bucket.

    There’s a clear gap between these two teams. The Cavaliers have a very high probability of winning the tip first and scoring first.

    There’s no one better than Donovan Mitchell to be the first scorer. Mitchell has taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 35% of games and has scored the team’s first field goal in nearly 40% of games.

    He’s scored the first basket in four of every ten games for the Cavaliers and has 12 first field goals in 31 games started. Let’s take Mitchell to score first tonight.

    Bet: Donovan Mitchell (+350)


    Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns

    The Suns are another team dominating the tip. Phoenix has won the tip in 73% of games but has only scored the first field goal in 48% of games. Still, the Suns have taken the game’s first field goal attempt in 70% of games and have only needed 1.6 field goals to score their first bucket this season.

    Meanwhile, Chicago needs 2.4 field goal attempts to score first. The Bulls have also won the tip in only 43% of games this season. Chicago has also scored the first field goal in 43% of games and has attempted the first field goal in 48% of matchups. All of these numbers are below average.

    The Suns figure to start Jusuf Nurkic, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen. Nurkic has been the most reliable, scoring ten first field goals in 38 games started this season. He’s taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 34% of games and has added the team’s first field goal in 26% of matchups.

    Let’s back Nurkic at +480.

    Bet: Jusuf Nurkic (+480)


    Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:


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