NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Thursday (1/9)
I’m eying a couple of matchups for tonight’s first basket market. Follow along below and consider tailing my top two plays for tonight.
Also, make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(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.
Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Rockets will send Alperen Sengun for the tip to go up against Zach Edey of the Grizzlies.
While Houston has scored the first basket in 67% of games this season, Sengun has only won the tip in 46% of attempts. Meanwhile, Edey has won the tip in 87% of games and has helped the Grizzlies score first 70% of the time. It’s likely the Grizzlies win the tip and get the first shot attempt.
Houston has also allowed the first basket to centers 33% of the time and given up the first basket to power forwards and shooting guards 25% of the time. Those are the three positions to attack.
Desmond Bane is the shooting guard for the Grizzlies. He’s also scored the first basket in eight out of 27 starts this season. Ultimately, he’s scored first in 30% of games this year and the team’s first basket in 30% of games.
Let’s roll with Bane.
Pick: Desmond Bane (+550)
Golden State Warriors vs. Detroit Pistons
The Warriors have struggled to score first baskets. Golden State has only added the first basket in 44% of games this season. Meanwhile, it’s been even worse behind Trayce Jackson-Davis as the tip-off man. Jackson-Davis has won the tip in just 21% of 28 starts.
He’ll go up against Jaren Duran of the Pistons, who has won the tip-off in 56% of games this season. Additionally, the Pistons have scored first in 62% of games this year.
Detroit has the edge tonight.
The Warriors also give up the first basket to shooting guards 30% of the time. Due to injury, Jaden Ivey is no longer playing, so Malik Beasley will be the shooting guard for the Pistons moving forward.
Beasley has started just 10 games but has two first baskets. He’s scored the team’s first basket in 40% of games this season and has added the team’s first field goal attempt in 30% of games. At +1100 odds, Malik Beasley provides fantastic value.
Pick: Malik Beasley (+1100)