We’ve got a solid slate of games tonight. I’m seeing plenty of value in the first-basket market and am ready to attack. Will you attack with me and tail my top two NBA first basket scorers?
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.
Go premium to view top prop bets based on Cover Probability, Expected Value & Star Rating >>
Tuesday’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.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Hornets
Nic Claxton will attempt the opening tip against the Charlotte Hornets today. The Brooklyn Nets center has won the tip in 65% of attempts this season. Despite his success, the Nets have scored first just 40% of the time. Still, it’s likely the Nets will get the first shot attempt since Claxton is competing against Moussa Diabate. Diabate has won the tip in just 39% of games this season.
Ultimately, the Hornets have allowed the first basket to centers 25% of the time and to small forwards 22% of the time. Those are the positions to target tonight.
Claxton currently leads all Nets starters in first baskets with five. He’s also scored the team’s first basket in 22% of games, which is the highest rate by any Nets starter heading into this game.
Let’s back Claxton to score first at +600 odds.
Pick: Nic Claxton (+600)
New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks already lost a battle for the opening tip against Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets. However, Towns has won the tip in 45% of games this season, while Sengun has won it in just 39% of games. The Knicks have also scored first 57% of the time, while the Rockets have scored first only 46% of the time.
The Knicks have the higher probability of winning the tip and scoring first.
Houston has allowed the first basket to small forwards 30% of the time this season. Point guards have scored 23% of the time this season. Those are the two positions to target for the Knicks tonight.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson has scored the first basket 14 times this season. He’s also attempted the team’s first field goal in 31% of games this season. That’s almost once every three attempts. Give Brunson a shot at +500 odds.
Pick: Jalen Brunson (+500)
