There’s a nine-game slate in the NBA tonight! After reviewing all nine games, I found some of the best value on the board for the first-basket market. Check it out below!
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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorers Picks
(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.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Minnesota Timberwolves will have Rudy Gobert attempt the opening tip. He’s won the tip in 52% of games and has helped the Timberwolves score first 61% of the time.
Meanwhile, he’ll battle Adem Bona of the Philadelphia 76ers, who has won the tip in only 40% of attempts this season. In addition, the Sixers have scored first only 47% of the time this season. It’s likely the Timberwolves win the tip and get the first shot attempt.
Philadelphia has allowed the first basket to point guards 28% of the time and centers 23% of the time. We’ll want to target those two positions.
Ayo Dosunmu will start at point guard for the Timberwolves. He doesn’t have a single first basket and has attempted the first field goal in just 6% of starts this season. He’s not the way to go. Instead, it’ll be Gobert, who has seven first baskets and has attempted the team’s first basket in 18% of games this season.
Pick: Rudy Gobert (+800)
Toronto Raptors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Taylor Hendricks will be slotted into the opening tip for the fourth time this season with the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s won the tip in two of his first three games, but that’s not a strong sample size to be confident in.
He’ll battle Jakob Poeltl, who has won the tip in 63% of games this season. Beyond that, the Raptors have scored first in 58% of games this season, while the Grizzlies have added the first basket in just 45% of games this year.
Toronto has the edge to score first in this one.
Memphis has allowed the first basket to shooting guards 26% of the time and point guards 26% of the time. Toronto will start Brandon Ingram at the two, and he’s scored 13 first baskets for the Raptors this season. Ingram has also scored the team’s first basket in 28% of starts and has attempted the team’s first field goal attempt in 31% of games this season. Ride with Ingram, even at +500 odds.
Pick: Brandon Ingram (+500)
