There’s nothing like a full five-game NBA Christmas slate! But some of us want to spend time with family and not watch sports while company is over.
Therefore, I’ve added a couple of quick and easy first-basket props that I’ll be adding. Consider tailing if you’d like a quick bet to place that won’t ruin much of your family time!
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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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Who will score the first basket in today’s NBA game? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Surprisingly, Joel Embiid will play in today’s game against the Boston Celtics. The Philadelphia 76ers’ center will also participate in the opening tip, where he’s won 63% of his eight attempts.
He’ll go up against Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis, who has won the tip only 50% of the time in ten tries. Embiid and Porzingis have both been hurt this season and haven’t started many games. That said, Embiid has a better track record so far.
Additionally, the 76ers have scored first in 63% of games this season, while the Celtics have scored first just 48% of the time.
It’s more likely the 76ers get the ball first and score first.
Ultimately, Boston has given up the first basket to power forwards 33% of the time this season. The power forward for the 76ers would be Paul George.
George has taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 41% of games and added the team’s first basket in 29% of games. He’s also scored the first basket in four of 17 games started this season.
Consider George at +950.
Pick: Paul George (+490)
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
It’ll be Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets against Jusuf Nurkic of the Suns in the final tip-off of Christmas Day.
Jokic has won the tip just 48% of the time this season, but the Nuggets have still scored first in 63% of games. If Jokic only wins about 50% of the time, expect the Nuggets’ first-basket rate to drop moving forward.
Meanwhile, Nurkic has won the tip in 86% of games this season, and the Suns have scored first in 61% of games this year. If Nurkic continues to win at his rate, expect the Suns to see an increase in their rate to score first.
Therefore, I’m way more confident it’ll be the Suns with the ball first.
Ultimately, Denver has allowed the first basket to shooting guards 30% of the time and small forwards 30% of the time. We’ll want to target those two positions. However, I should note Devin Booker won’t play in tonight’s game. Therefore, expect Bradley Beal to be the shooting guard and Royce O’Neale to be the small forward.
Beal scored the team’s first basket in 33% of games and added two first baskets in the first 18 games of this season. Let’s give Beal a try here.
Pick: Bradley Beal (+490)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:
