NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Thursday (3/6)
We went 2-0 with our first-basket plays yesterday, hitting on Jaylen Brown and Jonas Valanciunas to score the first basket in their respective games. Let’s keep that momentum with tonight’s two first-basket picks.
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.
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)
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Myles Turner will likely get the start and be the tip-off man for the Indiana Pacers. He’s participated in 51 opening tips but has only won 27% of those tips. As a result, the Pacers have scored first just 42% of the time this season.
Meanwhile, the Hawks will likely roll with Onyeka Okongwu for the opening tip. He’s won the tip in 52% of attempts and has helped the Hawks score first 48% of the time. That isn’t a high rate, either. However, Okongwu has already won the tip once against Turner this season and is more likely to give the Hawks the first chance to score.
That said, the Pacers have allowed the first basket to centers 26% of the time and shooting guards 23% of the time. Dyson Daniels is the shooting guard and has already started 57 games this season. He’s added five first baskets and has scored the team’s first basket in 25% of games. Daniels is the best play on the board for this game.
Pick: Dyson Daniels (+700)
New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Karl-Anthony Towns is expected to play for the New York Knicks after missing the most recent game due to personal reasons. He’s the projected jumper for tonight’s game for the Knicks. Ultimately, he’s won the tip in only 43% of attempts and has helped the Knicks score first only 48% of the time this season.
On the other hand, it’ll be Jaxson Hayes for the Lakers. Hayes has won the tip in 65% of games. He’s also helped the Lakers score first 60% of the time. In addition, Hayes has already beaten Towns for the tip in a game earlier this year.
It’s more likely the Lakers will win the first possession and take the first shot attempt.
The Knicks have allowed the first basket to power forwards 28% of the time this season. They’ve also given up the first basket to shooting guards 25% of the time and small forwards 25% of the time.
Those are the three positions you’ll want to target for the Lakers. However, let’s zone in on Austin Reaves. He’s the Lakers’ shooting guard and has scored the first basket in 26% of games this season. He’s also taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 34% of games. Reaves has lots of potential tonight.
Pick: Austin Reaves (+700)