Last night, we picked the right teams to score first, but not the correct player. Let’s see if we can get both correct for tonight’s two-game slate in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
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 & 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.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Jarrett Allen will participate in the opening tip for the Cavaliers. He won 68% of opening tips in the regular season and has already earned two opening tips against Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons this season.
Meanwhile, Duren won the opening tip just 44% of the time in the regular season. The Pistons scored first 54% of the time, which is good, but not nearly as good as the Cavaliers, who scored first 61% of the time this season.
Even on the road, it’s more likely the Cavaliers gain possession first and take the first shot.
Ultimately, the Pistons have allowed the first basket to small forwards 26% of the time and to power forwards 21% of the time. Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 13 first baskets, despite only starting in 63 games in the regular season.
Mobley has some value at +600 odds.
Pick: Evan Mobley (+600)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
This matchup will be between Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren. Ayton won the opening tip 67% of the time during the regular season, while Holmgren won the opening tip 54% of the time.
Plus, Ayton earned the opening tip in three out of four games in the regular season over Holmgren. The Lakers also scored first, 1% more than the Thunder did this season.
The Thunder allowed the first basket to point guards 33% of the time this season. Centers also scored 25% of the time. It’ll be Austin Reaves at point guard. He scored the first basket in seven out of 45 starts this season and scored the Lakers’ first basket in 24% of his starts in the regular season.
Ride with Reaves at +650 to score first tonight.
Pick: Austin Reaves (+650)
