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First Basket Scorer Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (12/27)

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There are plenty of NBA games tonight. The quickest way to get into the action is first-basket betting. Betting the first basket is one of the most simple bets in sports betting. Pick the player to score the first basket of the basketball game to win.

Let us look into the matchups tonight to find the best first-basket bets. Don't blink, or you might miss it.

First Basket Scorer Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (12/27)

Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia looks like one of the top NBA teams right now. They have transformed the way that they play the last couple of games. They are playing through Joel Embiid, and James Hardin looks like a more traditional pass-first guard.  

The increased usage to score and James Hardin looking to pass first makes Embiid the perfect player to score the first basket. Embiid averages 33.1 points per game and can consistently score against any team. That means Embiid has betting value tonight. 

First Basket: Joel Embiid (+320 via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets

Houston is one of the worst teams in the NBA. They struggle in all aspects of the game, and that is due to their youth. The Celtics are among the best teams in the NBA and a favorite to win the title this year. One of the biggest reasons for that is Jayson Tatum. 

Tatum is my favorite player to watch this year. He is a dynamic scorer, doing it on all levels. Every team has struggled to stop him because he continues to go at his defender all game. Tatum will be able to use this to his advantage early on against the young Rockets team to get the first basket. 

First Basket: Jayson Tatum (+380 via FanDuel Sportsbook)

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks

One of the most critical aspects of first-basket betting is getting first possession of the game. Mitchell Robinson for the New York Knicks has been among the best players at getting his team the first opportunity to score. He is tall, athletic and has a long wing span. That gives him an advantage of winning the tip-off. 

The Knicks look to RJ Barrett early on to shoot. They only have a few consistent scorers on the team, and Barrett is one of them. The Knicks try to get him started early on, which gives him plenty of betting value for the first basket. I would lower the number of units bet on this one, but know there is value. 

First Basket: RJ Barrett (+750 FanDuel Sportsbook)

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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.

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