The NBA slate has two Game 7 matchups to close out the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Let’s see which teams get off to a hot start and potentially move on to the next round. Here are two basket wagers to consider for today’s games.
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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Sunday’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.
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons
We’ve been attacking with the Orlando Magic in this series. We won’t stop now. Wendell Carter Jr. won the opening tip in 73% of games this season. Jalen Duren won the opening tip only 44% of the time this year.
Plus, Carter Jr. beat Duren in the opening tip in all four regular-season games. It’s been a little more even during the postseason, but the Magic certainly still have the advantage on paper to score first.
Additionally, the Pistons allowed the first basket to small forwards 26% of the time and power forwards 21% of the time. Paolo Banchero fits the script, and he’s +700 despite adding seven first baskets in the regular season.
The Orlando star will certainly want to get cooking early. Let’s ride with Banchero at +700.
Pick: Paolo Banchero (+700)
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
It’ll be a matchup between Jakob Poeltl of the Raptors and Jarrett Allen of the Cavaliers. Both have been very consistent at winning the opening tip this season.
That said, the Cavaliers added the first basket in 61% of regular-season games, while the Raptors scored first only 56% of the time. It was Jarrett Allen who won the opening tip in Game 6, and he also scored the Cavaliers’ first basket.
Toronto allowed the first basket to shooting guards 28% of the time and centers 25% of the time during the regular season. Allen is a solid bet, but Donovan Mitchell stands out even more at shooting guard. He’s +600 and scored eight first baskets in the regular season.
Mitchell took the team’s first field goal attempt in 24% of games, which is 4% higher than Allen, for example.
Pick: Donovan Mitchell (+600)
