NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Thursday (3/27)
We nailed Jaxson Hayes to score the first basket in yesterday’s Lakers game. Now, we’ll try to hit a first basket wager in back-to-back days.
I’ve got two first basket picks I’m excited about. Check them out below.
Follow along and 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.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls
Jaxson Hayes will, again, be the tip-off man for the Lakers. He won our first basket wager yesterday after winning the tip and scoring first against the Pacers. With that tip-off win, Hayes has earned the ball first for the Lakers 64% of the time in 25 starts.
He’ll go up against Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls. Although Vucevic has participated in 63 tips this season, he’s only won the tip in 16 games. Ultimately, Vucevic has been so bad at winning the ball first that the Bulls have scored first only 33% of the time this season.
In addition, Hayes already won the tip against Vucevic earlier this season. It’s way more likely the Lakers will get possession first and take the first shot attempt.
Ironically, the Bulls have allowed the first basket to centers 35% of the time this season. Hayes cashed in for us last night and has another unbelievable matchup tonight. Hayes has scored the first basket in seven games this season, added the team’s first basket in 42% of games and attempted the team’s first field goal in 35% of games.
The Lakers center has more first baskets than LeBron James, despite starting in 30+ fewer games.
Let’s ride with Hayes again.
Pick: Jaxson Hayes (+600)
Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz
The Rockets will use Alperen Sengun for tonight’s tip-off against the Jazz. Sengun has earned the tip in just 41% of games this season. Despite his struggles, the Rockets have still scored first 58% of the time.
Meanwhile, the Jazz will have Walker Kessler for tonight’s opening tip. Kessler has won the tip in 59% of games. The Jazz have scored first in 51% of games this season as a result.
It’s way more likely Kessler wins the tip over Sengun, even though Sengun got the best of Kessler in an earlier game this year.
That said, the Rockets have allowed the first basket to centers 35% of the time. Ultimately, Kessler has scored the team’s first basket in 25% of games this season. He’s also added five first baskets in 56 games this season. Kessler has a solid matchup and is worth a shot at +550 odds.
Pick: Walker Kessler (+550)