NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (2/26)
Tonight’s NBA slate consists of eight matchups. That means there will be eight first-basket scorers tonight. It’s my job to pick at least one of them.
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.
My first basket best bets are 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.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
The Philadelphia 76ers won’t have Joel Embiid in tonight’s tip. However, they will have Andre Drummond, who has won the tip in 69% of his first 16 starts this season. His contribution on the opening tip has led the 76ers to score first in 53% of games this season.
On the other hand, it’ll be Karl-Anthony Towns for the Knicks. Towns has won the tip in only 44% of games using a bigger sample size. As a result, the Knicks have only scored first in 49% of games this year.
Drummond likely wins the tip, and the 76ers get the first shot off.
That said, the Knicks have allowed the first basket to shooting guards 28% of the time and power forwards 28% of the time. We’ll target those two positions for the 76ers to score first tonight.
Quentin Grimes will likely start at shooting guard against his former team. However, he hasn’t scored the first basket in 16 games started this season. He hasn’t even attempted a first basket.
The power forward is Paul George, who looks much more worthy of being bet on. George has the team’s first basket in 39% of games and has attempted the team’s first basket in 42% of games. His nine first baskets are tied with Tyrese Maxey for the most on the 76ers. Take George.
Pick: Paul George (+500)
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons
Al Horford will likely get the start at center for the Celtics tonight. He’s participated in 15 opening tips and has only won the tip in 33% of games this season.
He’ll go up against Jalen Duren of the Pistons, who has won the tip in 51% of games this season. He’s helped the Pistons score first 53% of the time this season. On the other hand, the Celtics have only scored first 50% of the time. Detroit might not win this game, but it’s more likely the Pistons score first.
Boston has ultimately allowed the first basket to point guards 31% of the time, which is one of the highest rates to point guards this season. The point guard for the Pistons is currently Cade Cunningham, who has had a breakout season with Detroit. Cunningham has only scored the first basket four times this year. However, he’s still attempted the team’s first field goal attempt in 26% of games this season. That currently leads the Pistons’ starting five.
Roll with Cunningham to score first tonight.
Pick: Cade Cunningham (+600)