Rockets vs. Lakers NBA First Basket Scorers (Monday)
I’m eyeing a couple of first-basket wagers for tonight’s eight-game NBA slate. Here’s our top pick and prediction for the first basket scorer in Rockets vs. Lakers.
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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Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets: Rockets vs. Lakers
(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.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
The Los Angeles Lakers have won the tip in two-thirds of Jaxson Hayes’ starts. He’s added the tip in 67% of 27 attempts and has helped the Lakers score first 58% of the time this season.
While the Rockets have also added the first basket in 56% of games, Alperen Sengun has only won the opening tip in 40% of games. It’s way more likely the Lakers will win the tip and attempt the first shot.
Meanwhile, the Rockets have allowed the first basket to centers 33% of the time. That’s the third-highest rate to centers in the NBA. Hayes has scored the team’s first basket in 43% of games and has attempted the first field goal for the Lakers in 36% of games. That’s allowed him to score the first basket seven times in 28 tries. His first basket percentage of 25% leads the rest of the Lakers’ starters.
Despite playing way fewer games, Hayes has more first baskets than LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Pick: Jaxson Hayes (+490)