NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Sunday (4/13)
As the NBA regular season wraps up today, there’s still a lot to settle regarding playoff standings. The best way to win is to grab the first points, so let’s look at which player could do that for their team today.
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Sunday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Props
(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.
Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets
The Nuggets have a lot on the line. With a win, they keep the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. A loss could potentially move them down to the No. 7 seed and have to compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament. They took a big risk by firing head coach Michael Malone with a week left in the regular season. Let's see if it pays off.
The Nuggets face the Rockets, who could rest players as they are locked into the No. 2 seed. That would be a big advantage for Denver, especially in getting the game’s first points. They come into this game having scored the first basket in six of the last 10 games.
Michael Porter Jr. has been included a lot more on offense lately, especially with Jamal Murray injured. He has one first basket in the previous 10 games, but leads the team in first field goal attempts in that span.
Pick: Michael Porter Jr. (+700)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors versus Clippers matchup is one of the more important games of the day because each team must win. With a loss, each of these teams could potentially move down to the NBA Play-In Tournament seeding range. The Warriors can't move up, but the Clippers could move into the No. 4 seed with a win and a Nuggets loss.
There's no denying how important Jimmy Butler has been to the Warriors since coming to Golden State. He has reinvigorated this team, and they could be a serious threat in the playoffs. They’ve been hot with first baskets lately, converting five of their last seven and three straight.
Butler has scored one first basket in the previous three games. The Clippers have notably struggled to guard forwards, as they have allowed the most first baskets to that position this season.
Pick: Jimmy Butler (+600)