On Tuesday, we nailed a +500 NBA first basket scorer pick. Last night, we hit a +850 with Jaden McDaniels earning the first basket. We’re on quite a roll. Unfortunately, there are only three games tonight. The value is a little thin. However, we’ll try our best to earn a third consecutive first basket winner.
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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Thursday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(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.
New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Hornets
The Knicks will use Karl-Anthony Towns for the opening tip tonight. He’ll face Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate. Neither has been very good at winning the tip this season. In fact, Towns has won the tip in only 44% of games, but Diabate has earned the tip in just 39% of games.
Ultimately, Towns already has an opening tip win against Diabate earlier this year. It’s more likely that Towns earns another win tonight.
If the Knicks get the ball first, watch out for their starting power forward and center. The Hornets have allowed the first basket to power forwards and centers nearly 50% of the time this season.
While Jalen Brunson does most of the scoring to start the game for the Knicks, we should consider Karl-Anthony Towns tonight. Towns has still scored the first basket eight times this season. He’s also attempted the team’s first gield goal in 21% of games, which is second-most on the team.
Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns (+650)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons
Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons will likely compete against Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans for the opening tip. Duren has more experience, especially this season. He’s competed in 62 opening tips, but only won 44% of them.
On the other hand, Williamson has attempted seven opening tips and has won just 43% of them. The more notable stat is the fact that the Pistons have scored first 54% of the time, while the Pelicans have scored first only 48% of the time.
It’s more likely Detroit ends up with the ball first and takes the first shot.
The Pelicans have allowed the first basket to small forwards 29% of the time and point guards 24% of the time this season. Ausar Thompson would be the top play, knowing he’s a small forward. Daniss Jenkins, filling in for Cade Cunningham, doesn’t have a single first basket in 12 starts this season. So let’s roll with Thompson to score first at +850.
Pick: Ausar Thompson (+850)
