Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (11/18)
Let's take a look at the Friday NBA slate and find some First Basket prop plays.
Orlando Magic at Chicago Bulls
The Magic travel to Chicago on Friday in a matchup with the Bulls. Orlando isn't going to win many games this year, but they've been effective on First Basket props.
Early on in the season, Orlando was finding Paolo Banchero, but with him out others have stepped up. This is creating more opportunities for his teammates and when it comes to First Basket, no one is benefitting like Wendell Carter.
Carter has scored the first team field goal in five of the last ten Magic games, and five of the last nine that he started. The Magic have been excellent winning the tipoff and have scored their first field goal in 1.8 attempts on average in the last ten games, one of the best marks in the league.
Against a poor First Basket team like Chicago, Wendell Carter is a strong play.
Pick: Wendell Carter
Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets
When it comes to First Basket plays, there have been few teams that have been worse to target than the Rockets. Going up against a solid team like Indiana (cashing 60% of the last ten), it's a smart move to fade Houston.
Indiana has been cashing this prop quite often since big man Myles Turner returned to the lineup. He's played eight games this season and has already cashed this prop four times. I'll target him again here.
Turner, with Jalen Smith, creates a matchup nightmare with the Rocket frontcourt. I like the Pacers to continue to target Turner early here to cash another First Basket.
Pick: Myles Turner
Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers
The Pistons will be on the second night of a Los Angeles back-to-back. The Pistons have been ravaged by injuries recently and lost some frontcourt depth with Isaiah Stewart out now. Because of this, I like Anthony Davis for First Basket.
Davis has been the Lakers' go-to guy for early shots, especially as Lebron and others have missed time. He's putting up 1.06 of the first three field goal attempts on the season, and that's risen to 1.11 in the last ten games.
Against a thin Piston team, Davis should feast and it may start right from the tipoff. I like Davis to get going early and set the tone for the Lakers’ offense. He's a solid play for a First Basket prop.
Pick: Anthony Davis
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