Karl-Anthony Towns scored first last night to help us add a +600 winner in the first basket market! Let’s begin a streak and add another first basket winner with tonight’s selection of postseason 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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Tuesday’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.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama won the opening tip in 91% of games this season. He also helped the Spurs score first 54% of the time this year. It was the same story in Game 1 against the Blazers, when Wembanyama won the tip, and the Spurs scored first on their second possession.
Wembanyama will win the opening tip nine out of every ten attempts.
That said, the Blazers have allowed the first basket to centers 33% of the time. Wembanyama had the first shot attempt for the Spurs in Game 1, but missed. Stephon Castle actually scored first on the next possession. However, Wembanyama has still added the team’s first basket in 42% of games and has attempted the first field goal for the Spurs in 36% of games.
That’s who will want to take tonight.
Pick: Victor Wembanyama (+375)
Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
This season, Deandre Ayton won the opening tip 67% of the time and helped the Lakers score first 57% of the time. He’ll go up against Alperen Sengun, who has only won the opening tip in 38% of games.
Ayton won the opening tip in Game 1 of this series, but a bad pass from Marcus Smart led to a Josh Okogie first basket for the Rockets.
It’s still more likely the Lakers win the opening tip and take the first shot.
Ultimately, the Rockets have allowed the first basket to small forwards 30% of the time.
LeBron James had the ball in his hands when Ayton won the opening tip. This time, if he gets the ball, we’re going to hope he doesn’t pass it.
James is +550 to score first after adding ten first baskets in 60 starts in the regular season. He’s also scored the Lakers’ first basket in 25% of games this season. We’re taking LeBron James tonight.
Pick: LeBron James (+550)
