Nuggets vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorers (Thursday)
We’ve got three matchups in the NBA Playoffs on the schedule tonight. I reviewed each game and found my favorite two first-basket wagers for tonight. Here’s my top NBA first basket scorer prediction for Nuggets vs. Clippers.
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.
Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets: Nuggets vs. Clippers
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel 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.
Nuggets vs. Clippers
The Nuggets and Clippers also split the tip-off wins to start the first round of this playoff matchup. Ultimately, Nikola Jokic has added the tip in 61% of games and has helped the Nuggets add the first basket in 55% of games this season.
On the other hand, Ivica Zubac has won the tip in only 28% of games, and the Clippers have scored first in just 38% of games this season.
Meanwhile, Jokic has already won head-to-head matchups against Zubac in the opening tip in two out of three meetings. It’s very likely the Nuggets win the tip and get the first shot off.
The Clippers have allowed the first basket to centers 25% of the time. In Game 2, Jokic took the first two shot attempts for the Nuggets and drained his second shot. He’ll likely take the first shot for the Nuggets. He currently leads the team in first basket percentage and first field goal percentage. Jokic has taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 39% of games.
Let’s ride with Jokic.
Pick: Nikola Jokic (+600)