There are three NBA postseason games on tonight’s slate. While the games should be super exciting, all we’ve got to do is pay attention to the very beginning of each game. I’ve picked out two NBA first basket scorers you’ll want 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.
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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorers
(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.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
Jarrett Allen won the opening tip in 68% of his regular-season games. He also most recently won the opening tip over the Raptors in Game 2 and then scored on that first possession for the Cavaliers.
Ultimately, Cleveland added the first basket in 61% of games this season. That’s one of the best rates in the NBA. It’s likely Allen and the Cavaliers earn the first possession and take the first shot in tonight’s game.
The Raptors have allowed the first basket to shooting guards 28% of the time, and have allowed centers to score first 25% of the time.
Evan Mobley led the team in first baskets this season. However, Allen was only one first basket away from tying Mobley. Allen scored the first basket in 21% of regular-season games and took the team’s first basket in 25% of games. Let’s see if he can add back-to-back first baskets tonight.
Pick: Jarrett Allen (+500)
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
The Karl-Anthony Towns versus Onyeka Okongwu opening tip-off matchup will continue to be a coin flip. That said, the Knicks scored first in 59% of games last season, while the Hawks scored first only 48% of the time.
That gives me more confidence that the Knicks will add the first basket in tonight’s Game 3.
The Hawks have given up the first basket to centers 30% of the time. Towns scored the first basket in Game 2 and looks just as good on paper in Game 3.
During the regular season, Towns was second on the Knicks in first baskets and scored the team’s first basket in 19% of games. Let’s ride with Towns to get off to a hot start tonight.
Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns (+600)
