NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (11/21)
With Thanksgiving later this week, I hope everyone takes time to remember what you’re thankful for. I am thankful for bets and parlays that cash. Here are my best first-basket bets for tonight’s slate.
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Bol Bol (+900)
I’m feeling a bit riskier here to start, but with good reason. Bol has won 75 percent of opening tips over the last two seasons with Orlando cashing in on scoring on their first possession a solid 67 percent of the time this season.
Furthermore, the Pacers have allowed first baskets to come from a team’s center or power forward 25 and 20 percent of the time, respectively with the Magic having their center or power forward scoring the first basket 25 and 28 percent of the time, respectively.
Obviously, it is a bit of a long shot. Bol doesn’t exactly have the highest usage, but he has been putting up some solid scoring numbers of late. I love this value, especially with Wendall Carter Jr. currently questionable.
Brook Lopez (+750)
Milwaukee is one of my favorite teams to identify a player for securing the first basket. Lopez boasts a 74 percent tip-win rate in his last two years and Milwaukee has successfully scored their first basket attempt in 57 percent of games this year.
Furthermore, Milwaukee reps the best defense in the NBA, and with Portland’s middling offense, even a Trail Blazers opening tip victory wouldn’t give me confidence in their ability to cash in on the first basket.
I’m going Lopez here as another value play. Only 11 percent of the time has a first basket come from a point guard for Milwaukee, so Jrue Holiday is out, and with Giannis sitting at +350 for the first basket, there isn’t enough value. Lopez is the choice here.
Jayson Tatum (+480)
Honestly, I feel like I write about Tatum every other article with how much money he’s made me this season.
Going up against the Bulls, Al Horford will have an advantage over Nikola Vucevic for the opening tip. With Boston boasting the best offense in the league, I trust their ability to capitalize on what should be an opening tip win.
The Bulls have allowed a high percentage of first baskets to come from down low, so honestly, Al Horford at +750 isn’t a bad option either. I simply just will continue trusting Tatum here until proven wrong.
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All opening tip and first basket data courtesy of NBA First Basket (@NBAFirstBasket)
Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.