NBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Tuesday (4/7)
Over the last couple of days, we’ve had three players take shots to score the first basket. However, each player missed those shots and didn’t cash in. We’re reading the board well, though. Let’s look for a winner in the first basket market today.
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.
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.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Deandre Ayton has won the opening tip against Chet Holmgren all three times this season. In addition, the Lakers center has won the opening tip in 66 percent of his games, while Holmgren has won in only 53 percent of his tip-off attempts this season.
The Thunder and Lakers have each scored first 56 percent of the time this year. But it’s way more likely the Lakers end up with the first possession and first shot.
The Thunder have allowed the first basket to point guards 32 percent of the time this season. In addition, centers have scored first 26 percent of the time against OKC.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves unavailable, Luke Kennard is starting at point guard. He’s doing a lot of great things, but it’s unlikely he’ll take the first shot for the Lakers. Instead, it makes more sense to ride it out with Ayton, who has scored first in seven games this season. He’s also added the team’s first basket in 16 percent of games this year. Let’s give Ayton a try at +850 odds.
Pick: Deandre Ayton (+850)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers will have Brook Lopez compete for the opening tip tonight. He’ll go up against Dallas’ Daniel Gafford, who has won the opening tip in only 34 percent of games this season. Neither team has scored the first basket at a high rate. In fact, both teams are below 50 percent when trying to score first.
Beyond that, Daniel Gafford already has an opening tip win against Lopez. But the data proves Lopez is way more likely to win an opening tip against Gafford overall.
The Mavericks have allowed the first basket to small forwards 30 percent of the time and centers 30 percent of the time. Those are the positions to check out for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard has only had four first baskets in 62 starts this season. However, he’s still attempted the team’s first field goal in 27 percent of games. That’s the second-highest on the team. Therefore, will give it a go with Kawhi Leonard at +460 odds to score first in tonight’s game.
Pick: Kawhi Leonard (+460)