NBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Sunday (Nuggets vs. Thunder)
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 First Basket Scorer Picks
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Nuggets were able to force a Game 7, with an exciting home win. They hope it isn't the last time they play there this season. This has been a thrilling series, with a few games coming down to the final minutes. Whoever scores the first basket is important. The team that scored first has won five of the six games in this series.
The Nuggets have taken advantage in this series with a 4-2 lead in first baskets. While they have scored the first basket, it's been the Thunder that have won the tip and gotten the first shot attempt in four games. While they haven't been as successful in this series, they converted at a 56% rate during the regular season, which is the fourth-highest.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in first baskets with 11, but that only accounted for 14% of their first baskets, as six players had five or more first baskets. In the playoffs, it's Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren tied at two, but Williams has 40% of the first-basket attempts and has one first-basket in this series.
Pick: Jalen Williams (+600)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Sunday: