NBA First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (3/11)
Tuesday’s NBA slate is a small one with just four games on the schedule. Still, we have plenty of ways to go for first-basket scorer picks and predictions before the action begins. Our first-basket picks feature the Nets vs. Cavaliers and the Bucks vs. Pacers matchups.
NBA first-basket bets are quick and easy ways to place wagers with bigger payouts – and you'll know if they cash right away. Let's try to find some winners for a pair of games on Tuesday night.
Note that all betting lines are accurate as of writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these NBA first-basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, March 11.
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Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA. They're on a 14-game winning streak and boast the best record in the league. The Cavs' dominance starts right away with the opening tip-off and scoring first.
Cleveland has a league-best 78.1% win rate on opening tips this season. The Cavs have also scored the first basket 37 times, tied for the second-most in the NBA. Let's bank on the Cavaliers' early-game success continuing tonight at home against the struggling Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets are a bad team overall and, interestingly enough, that's carried over to the First Basket prop too. They have a poor 37.5% win rate on opening tip-offs this season, the sixth-lowest in the league. Their 27 made first baskets are tied for the NBA's fifth-fewest as well.
The trends and stats all point to the Cavaliers scoring first after winning the tip. It helps that Cleveland center Jarrett Allen is 3-0 on tip-offs against Brooklyn center Nic Claxton so far this year.
As for the Cavs, the first-basket production is pretty evenly spread out. Let's roll with Darius Garland, who's averaging 20.9 PPG this season and shooting a career-high 47.8% from the field. Garland ideally has a favorable head-to-head matchup vs. Nets guard Cam Thomas, who is a more offensive-minded player.
Notably, Garland took Cleveland's first shot attempt in two of three games against Brooklyn earlier this year. In the other, he scored the Cavs' first points of the game (on their second shot attempt). He's one of their top scoring options anyway but provides value for this prop because he ranks fourth on the team in made first baskets.
Pick: Darius Garland (+700)
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
Two of the Eastern Conference's top teams face off tonight as the Indiana Pacers host the Milwaukee Bucks. This is a potential playoff series preview as well. Let's focus on which team and player might score the first basket in this nationally televised matchup.
It all starts with the big men as Milwaukee's Brook Lopez takes on Indiana's Myles Turner for the initial jump ball. Lopez has dominated his counterpart on tips in recent years. He's 7-1 on opening tip-offs vs. Turner over the past three seasons combined. The 7-foot-1 Lopez also has two inches on the 6-foot-11 Turner.
Furthermore, the Bucks have a 58.7% win rate on opening tips and have scored the first basket in 35 of 63 games (55.5%). Compare that to the Pacers' weak 27.4% win rate on tips, the second-lowest in the NBA, with first baskets in just 40.3% of games this year. Milwaukee has scored first in both games vs. Indiana this season and should again tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has the shortest odds to score first, but he's still a good pick to cash this prop. Milwaukee’s superstar leads the team in made first baskets (8) and first baskets per game started (15.4%) this year. Giannis has also scored 37 and 30 points against the Pacers this season.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+340)