When the San Antonio Spurs play, we typically take a chance on a Spurs player to score first, since Victor Wembanyama rarely loses an opening tip. However, he’s got a concussion, so our strategy has changed as we enter tonight’s games.
Here are a couple of first basket picks for April 24.
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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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorers
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
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.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Deandre Ayton has already won both opening tips in this postseason series against the Rockets. It makes sense. This season, he added the opening tip in 67% of games, while Aleperen Sengun won the tip in only 38% of games for the Rockets.
We’ll take a chance that Ayton will win the opening tip again tonight.
The Rockets have allowed the first basket to small forwards 30% of the time. LeBron James looks like he’s back in his prime without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He attempted the first basket 25% of the time this season, but without Doncic and Reaves, that likely would’ve gone up even more throughout the season.
Let’s ride James at +600 odds.
Pick: LeBron James (+600)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Victor Wembanyama is out tonight due to a concussion. Therefore, Luke Kornet will start and take the opening tip. Ultimately, he’s won the opening tip in just 48% of starts this season.
Donovan Clingan will prepare for the opening tip with the Blazers. He’s won the tip in 55% of games and finally has an edge in this first basket market tonight.
The Trail Blazers should end up with the first possession. Meanwhile, the Spurs have allowed the first basket to small forwards 29% of the time this season.
Toumani Camara only scored five first baskets in 82 starts this season. However, he still took the team’s first field goal attempt in 21% of games. At +1100, let’s take a long shot with Camara to score first tonight. The numbers play out well for him.
Pick: Toumani Camara (+1100)
