Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/30)
The NBA season pushes on, as do we sports betters. Letâs look at the final Friday slate of 2022 to find some first basket plays.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Go premium to view top prop bets based on Cover Probability, Expected Value & Star Rating >>
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 hasnât been often theyâve had a full complement in the lineup. Friday, they may still be missing key pieces, but theyâre getting closer to healthy. Meanwhile, Phoenix is figuring out life without Devin Booker in the lineup. For first basket, Iâm 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 Sunsâ 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 heâs 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 hasnât helped this at all. Iâm going to target the hotter first basket team here, Minnesota, and there are two players I like.
DâAngelo 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: DâAngelo Russell (+800) & Anthony Edwards (+650)
Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been a juggernaut at home all season, and Friday nightâs game should be no different. The Nuggets should take care of business from the jump. One player Iâm looking at for first basket is the MVP in the middle, Nikola Jokic.
Jokicâs full-season first basket numbers are good, but nothing eye-popping. In the recent weeks where heâs picked up steam for a third straight MVP, heâs been the best first basket prop casher in the league. In his last 10 starts, Jokic scored Denverâs first field goal in six games, five of which have been the gameâs first field goal. Heâs almost a must-bet given how hot heâs been.
Miami is also a great matchup for Jokic. Theyâve 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. Iâm not going to overthink this and take the favorite.
Pick: Nikola Jokic (+410)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether youâre new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our How To Section â including How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Sports Betting Mistakes â or head to a more advanced strategy â like Thinking Like an Expert Sports Bettor â to learn more.