We get a solid eight-game NBA slate this evening. There are many betting options to consider. So, without further delay, here are a few NBA first basket scorers worth sprinkling a few dollars on for Monday, November 9th.
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Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorers
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Who scores first in today’s NBA slate? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic
We kick things off with a tried-and-true option that has paid off quite well through the opening two weeks of the NBA season. Evan Mobley has now scored the first basket in three games heading into tonight’s contest against Orlando. Jarrett Allen was scorching hot through the first five games, scoring three baskets in the first six games. Since then, Mobley has taken the reins on the Cavaliers’ first offensive possession.
Cleveland possesses a bit of a size advantage over Orlando. This certainly improves the Cavaliers’ chances of winning the opening tip-off and scoring first. Mobley has been quite aggressive in the first 10 minutes over the last five games. The veteran forward is averaging four attempts over that span. Cleveland gets the nod on size, and Mobley has been looking for his shot early. That could hold very well for the Cavaliers' forward to score the first basket tonight.
Pick: Evan Mobley (+500)
Memphis Grizzlies at Toronto Raptors
We move on to another early-season favorite. Zach Edey is simply an unstoppable force down low. Until this number gets juiced, the young center should always be the first consideration to get the first field goal. Jakob Poeltl won’t be able to contain Edey on the inside, and the Grizzlies could exploit that advantage from the start.
Edey has scored the first basket in two games this season and is averaging 2.2 attempts in the first five minutes of each contest. Memphis elects to go to their bench quite quickly, so there is extra emphasis on making the most of the time on the floor for Edey. A quick alley-oop to the center is well within the realm of possibility for Memphis in this matchup against Toronto.
Indiana Pacers at Dallas Mavericks
This next selection is one of two longshots that could make for a sneaky cash on our first-basket prop. Dallas will play the second leg of a back-to-back and may come out of the box a little less aggressive than usual. Indiana is an experienced team that will once again be without point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Andrew Nembhard has taken on Indiana’s facilitating responsibilities, and that could lead to a quick basket for Aaron Nesmith tonight. Nesmith pays out a massive +950. Yet, with Dallas playing their second game in as many nights and Haliburton out, that +950 could be a gift. Nesmith has scored the first basket once this season.
Pick: Aaron Nesmith (+950)
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets
At first glance, it seems that going with one of this contest’s stars is the most likely path to success in knocking down the first field goal. Kevin Durant (+700), Alperen Sengun (+500), Nikola Jokic (+500) and the favorite to score the first basket, Jamal Murray (+480), all make for fantastic options. That said, we are going to delve a little deeper and back a player further along on the radar.
Amen Thompson has scored the first basket in one contest this season. The young guard is averaging 3.6 points on 2.8 attempts in the first quarter over the last five games. Thompson is shooting 50% over that span and is playing just under eight minutes through the first 10 minutes of gameplay. With so much focus on the more recognizable options in this contest, we could certainly see Thompson cutting backdoor for a quick two points.
Pick: Amen Thompson (+800)
San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns
To close out the night, we are going to side with the proverbial chalk and play the success rate for this contest. Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox have accounted for seven of the Spurs’ 10 first baskets to open the season. For such a niche prop, betting on either player has been extremely lucrative. We appreciate a reliable return on investment. So, we are going back to the well once again.
Wembanyama seems like the obvious play with four first baskets. That said, Fox is right behind him, with three. Either player is worth 0.75% or 1% of your bankroll based on the success rate alone. This is becoming a possible season-long play where you keep playing it out in hopes of finishing the year at 50% or higher. So far, that’s been the case.
Picks: Victor Wembanyama (+270) and De'Aaron Fox (+700)
