NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (2/10)
With a small slate on Sunday, the NBA has loaded the schedule for Saturday. Twenty-two teams are in action with plenty of intrigue to go around.
Here are a few big-man First Basket plays to get your Saturday started off right.
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Saturday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Detroit Pistons @ Los Angeles Clippers
Detroit is looking to keep rolling on their West Coast trip, where they were winners of their first two contests. They will meet up with the Clippers buzzsaw that has dominated over the last two months. Obviously, the Clippers have a strong chance to not only win but cover such a large spread. However, I like Detroit to get the party started in the scoring column.
The Pistons have been pretty successful this season when it comes to First Basket plays, despite the lack of success they’ve had in the winning department. One player in particular who has had opportunities to cash these props is Jalen Duren. The young center for Detroit has only started 34 games this year but has scored the first field goal for Detroit in eight of those contests. This has translated to four First Baskets.
Although he doesn’t have many on the year, this is a good matchup for Duren. The Clippers allow a lot of first scores to centers. I like Duren to continue his run of good play with a hot start in this game and a First Basket.
Bet: Jalen Duren (+750)
San Antonio Spurs @ Brooklyn Nets
The Spurs take on the Nets today. The Spurs haven’t had a lot of success winning this year, but star rookie Victor Wembanyama has given them a lot of reasons to be excited about the future. His Rookie of the Year campaign will be one of the biggest storylines to watch for San Antonio down the stretch, and I would like him to add to that resumé with another First Basket on Saturday.
Brooklyn has struggled against centers when it comes to First Baskets. Wembanyama is very capable of taking advantage of this mismatch. On the season, Wembanyama has already scored nine first field goals for the Spurs. These have resulted in seven First Baskets. I like the matchup for him to get another on Saturday.
Bet: Victor Wembanyama (+500)
Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta and Houston are both on the second night of back-to-backs after playing Friday. This could mean lineups are in flux, but assuming Onyeka Okongwu is in the lineup, he’s my favorite First Basket play of the day.
Okongwu has only had a few starts this season, as he was just recently inserted into the starting lineup. However, he’s been a monster when it comes to First Baskets. In just six starts on the season, Okongwu has three First Baskets already. This includes cashing this prop on Friday night.
Houston has allowed centers to score first quite often this season. Okongwu has a small sample size, but he has had success regarding First Baskets. He’s my last big-man First Basket play for Saturday.
Bet: Onyeka Okongwu (+650)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: