The long wait is over! Tonight is Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics.
That said, we’re trying to cash in a minute into the game. Therefore, I’ve added a couple of first-basket bets you’ll want to consider for tonight’s Game 1.
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Here are our top NBA First Basket scorer prop bet picks for tonight’s NBA Finals game between the Mavericks and Celtics.
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 >>
Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics will welcome back Kristaps Porzingis to the starting lineup. He’s only participated in four opening tips in the playoffs due to injury, but he won three of those four tips to start the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in the regular season, Porzingis had 56 opening tips and won them 80% of the time. That helped the Celtics score first at one of the highest rates in the NBA, adding the first basket in 63% of games.
On the other hand, Daniel Gafford only won the tip in 38% of games during the regular season. In the playoffs, he’s been better but not great. Gafford has only won the tip in 47% of games during the postseason, but the Mavericks have still scored first in 71% of the games.
But after breaking down the data, it’s more likely the Celtics will win the tip and get the first chance at scoring the first basket.
In the regular season, Dallas allowed the first basket to centers 29% of the time. Power forwards weren’t far behind, scoring the first basket in 26% of games.
Power forwards have also scored first 40% of the time in the playoffs against Dallas. Therefore, targeting the two bigs for the Celtics would be the way to go heading into Game 1.
In the first four playoff games, Porzingis still scored first once in four games. Plus, throughout the regular season, Porzingis scored the team’s first basket in 32% of games and added the first basket in 12 of 57 starts. If he’s in the starting lineup, Porzingis would be the first option.
NBA First Basket Scorer Bet: Kristaps Porzingis (+460)
In the regular season, Jayson Tatum wasn’t consistently scoring first. Instead, he only made 11 first baskets in 74 games. He hasn’t improved in the playoffs.
Tatum has only made one first basket in 14 games during the postseason. However, against Dallas, he’s got a really good matchup to start things off. Ultimately, Tatum has been consistent from the field, but he’s still added the team’s first field goal attempt in nearly 30% of games during the playoffs.
The shots will fall under the bright lights. Let’s back Tatum to score first as the second play.
NBA First Basket Scorer Bet: Jayson Tatum (+550)
