NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Sunday (5/4)
The best way to win in the NBA is to score the first points, so let's look at which players could do that for their team today with our top NBA first-basket scorer picks and predictions.
Sunday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Pacers and Cavaliers kick off their second-round series tonight. The Cavs easily swept Miami in round one, which included two wins by over 50 points. This was a defensive-centric team last season, but new head coach Kenny Atkinson changed their entire approach. The Cavaliers became a top-tier offense, leading the league in points (121.9 per game) and offensive rating (121).
The Cavs have also been one of the best first-basket teams, as their 60% rate was the best in the league this season. They also held the advantage against Indiana by grabbing the first basket in three of their four games. Jarrett Allen had two of those first baskets, and that seems to be the trend with the Pacers allowing the most first baskets to centers.
Pick: Jarrett Allen (+550)
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets
The greatest words in sports are Game 7. We get a winner-take-all Game 7 tonight, as the Rockets look to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. Houston was one of the better defensive teams in the league, as they allowed the sixth-fewest points in the regular season (109.8). However, the offense in the last two games has pushed them, and they have scored a combined 246 points in that span.
They've also dominated first baskets by grabbing four in six games. Alperen Sengun has played a big part in the Rockets’ success, going up against a smaller Warriors lineup, allowing him to score two first baskets in this series so far.
Pick: Alperen Sengun (+400)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Sunday: