NBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Monday (5/4)
We finally got some new matchups to dig into with our first-basket picks. Let’s start the second round of the NBA playoffs with a bang. Here are a couple of NBA first two basket scorers to consider for tonight.
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.
- More NBA Betting Advice
- Player Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
- First Basket Cheat Sheet
- Prop Bet Analyzer
- Best +EV NBA Props
Monday’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.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks
The Philadelphia 76ers will roll with Joel Embiid for the opening tip. In the regular season, he only won 43% of opening tips. On the other hand, Karl-Anthony Towns will be the tip-off man for the Knicks. He also won the opening tip in 43% of games this season.
That said, the New York Knicks scored the first basket in 59% of games, while the Sixers added the first basket in 49% of games. Towns also beat Embiid earlier in the season on one opening tip. It’s more likely the Knicks score first tonight.
Philadelphia has allowed the first basket to point guards 26% of the time, and Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks with first baskets this year. In the regular season, Brunson added 14 first baskets and took the team’s first field goal attempt in 29% of games.
Brunson looks live at +550 odds.
Pick: Jalen Brunson (+550)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs
Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves scored the first basket in 60% of games during the regular season. They’re great at scoring first. However, it’s more likely Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs get possession first and take the first shot. Wembanyama won the opening tip in 91% of games this season and already has an opening tip win over Gobert this season.
The Timberwolves allowed the first basket to shooting guards 36% of the time this season. It’ll be Stephon Castle slotted in the shooting guard position to begin this game. He’s scored first six times in the regular season, but has taken 16% of the team’s first field-goal attempts. At +650 odds, Castle is worth a try tonight.
Pick: Stephon Castle (+650)