After a long and exciting slate yesterday, we’re left with just four matchups on tonight’s NBA board. But that’s still enough games to find some value, specifically in the first basket market.
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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
The Indiana Pacers have only won 43% of the tips this season. They’ve also scored just 41% of the first field goal and have attempted the game’s first field goal in only 7% of games.
They’ll take on the Knicks on the road, who have won the tip in nearly 50% of games. New York has also added the first field goal in 53% of matchups and has attempted the first field goal in 57% of games.
It’s more likely that the Knicks will start the game off with the ball and they’d have a higher probability of scoring first in that instance.
The Knicks expect OG Anunoby to return for tonight’s game after missing two matchups, making their starting lineup Jalen Brunson, Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and Isaiah Hartenstein.
This season, 47% of the team’s first field goal attempts have gone to Brunson. He’s added 12 first field goals and has scored the team’s first field goal in 27% of games.
The next best is Isaiah Hartenstein, who has added the team’s first field goal in 21% of starts. At +1100, the value is on Hartenstein, who has already scored four first-field goals in 19 starts this season.
Bet: Isaiah Hartenstein (+1100)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz
The 76ers won’t have Joel Embiid tonight, however, they’ve still won the tip in 57% of games this season. Philadelphia has also scored the first field goal in 48% of games and has attempted the first field goal in 52% of matchups.
They’ll take on the Utah Jazz, who are one of the worst teams at winning the tip. The Jazz have won the tip in 37% of games and have scored the first field goal in only 33% of games this season. They’ve also attempted just 39% of the game’s first field goals this season.
Embiid has taken 50% of the team’s first field goal attempts. Kelly Oubre Jr. is next on the list, and he has attempted 30% of the team’s first field goals and has added the team’s first field goal in 26% of starts this season.
Oubre Jr. has only started in 23 games this year, but he’s scored six first field goals and ties Tobias Harris with 26% of the team’s first field goals when starting. At +750, let’s give Kelly Oubre Jr. a shot with Embiid out of the lineup.
Bet: Kelly Oubre Jr. (+750)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:

