NBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Thursday (Pacers vs. Knicks)
The Indiana Pacers are just one win away from joining the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. However, while the Pacers are up 3-1 in the series, they’ll be on the road for Game 5.
The Pacers won Games 1 and 2 in this series on the road. However, the Knicks should play with more urgency with their backs against the wall. A win in Game 5 would completely change the narrative. The Knicks would need to find a way to win in Game 6, and then they would be home for a potential Game 7.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I’ve added a first-basket wager for tonight’s Game 5 Eastern Conference Finals matchup below.
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.
Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel 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.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have won the opening tip and scored the first basket both times when Mitchell Robinson got the start. It’s unclear if he’ll start again in Game 5. It’s likely the Knicks stick with Robinson at center and keep Josh Hart on the bench. It worked in Game 3, which was the only game the Knicks won in this series.
If Robinson gets the start, he’ll face Myles Turner, who only won the tip in 43% of his regular-season games this year. Ultimately, the Knicks and Pacers both won the tip in 41% of their regular-season games. However, it was the Knicks who scored the first basket slightly more. With Robinson at center, I’d expect the Knicks to win the tip and take the first shot.
That said, the Pacers allowed the first basket to point guards 24% of the time this season. They’ve also given up the first basket to centers 24% of the time this year. Jalen Brunson, the team’s point guard, leads the Knicks in first baskets this year. He’s attempted New York’s first basket in 43% of games and has added the team’s first basket in 35% of games. His first basket percentage during the regular season reached 17%.
Brunson offers only +400 odds to score first. However, he’s already added a first basket in this series against the Pacers. Let’s bet on him to do it again tonight.
Pick: Jalen Brunson (+400)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: