There’s a nine-game slate in the NBA tonight! With nine games, there’s plenty of value and opportunity with tonight’s NBA first basket market. Let’s get right to it with our top NBA first basket scorers and picks for Wednesday, April 1st.
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 >>
Wednesday’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.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
The Atlanta Hawks will have Onyeka Okongwu take the opening tip. He’s won the tip in just 44% of games this season. Meanwhile, the Hawks have scored first in only 47% of games this season.
Okongwu will compete against Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr., who has won the opening tip in 71% of games this season. The Magic have also scored first in 57% of games, and Carter has won the opening tip in both meetings against Okongwu.
It’s much more likely the Magic end up with possession first and take the first shot.
Atlanta has allowed the first basket to centers 28% of the time and to point guards 23% of the time. We’ll want to target those positions.
Carter has scored the first basket 14% of the time this season and has two first baskets against the Hawks over his last 10 games. Let’s back Carter to score first.
Pick: Wendell Carter Jr. (+750)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
It’s going to be Victor Wembanyama against Draymond Green for tonight’s opening tip. Wembanyama has won the opening tip 90% of the time this season and has earned the tip in all three matchups against Green and the Warriors this season.
The Spurs have scored first 55% of the time, while the Warriors have scored first only 48% of the time. PGreen has won the tip in just 32% of games this season. It’s very likely the Spurs will take the first shot of the game.
Ultimately, the Warriors have allowed the first basket to point guards 33% of the time and to power forwards 31% of the time. You’ll want to invest heavily in those positions for the Spurs tonight.
Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox has scored the first basket in 11% of games this season. He’s also made the first basket in one of his last five games. Let’s roll with Fox to score the first basket against the Warriors.
Pick: De’Aaron Fox (+550)
