Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/30)
The NBA season pushes on, as do we sports betters. Let's look at the final Friday slate of 2022 to find some first basket plays.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/30)
Phoenix Suns at Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have fought with injuries all season, and it hasn't been often they've had a full complement in the lineup. Friday, they may still be missing key pieces, but they're getting closer to healthy. Meanwhile, Phoenix is figuring out life without Devin Booker in the lineup. For first basket, I'm targeting Pascal Siakam, who has been a solid mainstay in the Raptor lineup.
The Raptors are one of the hotter first basket teams, scoring the first field goal in eight of their last 10 games. Siakam has been the player cashing this the most, with three of his own. As their leading scorer and most consistently healthy player, he continues to get these opportunities.
Against a Suns’ lineup that is still trying to figure out what the rotations look like down their all-star guard, Siakam creates massive defensive mismatches. That is why he's my pick for first basket.
Pick: Pascal Siakam (+440)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee is on a bit of a skid recently, and a drop-off in defense has triggered it. Missing both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday hasn't helped this at all. I'm going to target the hotter first basket team here, Minnesota, and there are two players I like.
D'Angelo Russell matches up well with a Bucks backcourt that will likely be without Holiday again. Although Russell is only scoring 16.8 ppg, he leads the Timberwolves in first basket scores. He has been really consistent with this too. The matchup with an undermanned Bucks squad makes this worth a sprinkle.
Anthony Edwards is my other play here. Many of the same reasons I like Russell also make Edwards attractive. Edwards has been hot, scoring four first team field goals in his last 10 starts. Any time he is in the lineup, he will be worth a play for first basket.
Picks: D'Angelo Russell (+800) & Anthony Edwards (+650)
Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been a juggernaut at home all season, and Friday night's game should be no different. The Nuggets should take care of business from the jump. One player I'm looking at for first basket is the MVP in the middle, Nikola Jokic.
Jokic's full-season first basket numbers are good, but nothing eye-popping. In the recent weeks where he's picked up steam for a third straight MVP, he's been the best first basket prop casher in the league. In his last 10 starts, Jokic scored Denver's first field goal in six games, five of which have been the game’s first field goal. He's almost a must-bet given how hot he's been.
Miami is also a great matchup for Jokic. They've given up first field goals to big men at a very strong clip, 52%. Their post defense has taken a hit this season and going up against the most skilled big man in the league is not what the doctor ordered. Jokic having the ability to pop out and shoot from range makes this play all that more attractive.
Jokic is the shortest odds on the board for this game. I'm not going to overthink this and take the favorite.
Pick: Nikola Jokic (+410)
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