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Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (10/28)

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Here are four of our favorite NBA First Basket bets for Friday’s slate.

Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic

Paolo Banchero has been a major focal point for the offense in the season’s first week. Leading the team in both scoring and field goal attempts per game, he is cementing himself as the number one option on this young roster.

That makes him an attractive pick for the first basket, but add that he's being targeted early in Orlando's contests so far this year, and he's the no-brainer pick. Banchero has attempted almost 50% of the Magic's first three field goals in the early season.

The Magic aren't likely to win many games this year, but Paolo Banchero is looking like a solid first-basket pick on a near-nightly basis.

Pick: Paolo Banchero (+550)

New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks

I like Jrue Holiday in this game for the Bucks. This was a spot that Khris Middleton was targeted in often last season, but with him out, it's opened up first-field-goal opportunities for other players. Early returns have shown Jrue is becoming the new go-to target.

With the ball in his hands often, he's been helping to set the pace for the offense. He is taking it upon himself on a team loaded with weapons to start the scoring from the tip. It's been early, but he's already recorded the first Milwaukee field goal in each game. I like him to maintain this trend.

Pick: Jrue Holiday (+500)

Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves

It's no secret the Lakers have been terrible to start the season. National pundits are already spelling an end to the Lebron James era in Los Angeles.

Friday night is a spot where Lebron will try to do whatever he can to pick up that first win for the Lakers. Because of this, I love Lebron as the first field goal scorer. He's going to look to impose his presence early and often in this game. He's a player that has spent his career leading by example, and there is the motivation here for him to silence all the critics, or at least for one night. 

Pick: Lebron James (+500)

Houston Rockets at Portland Trailblazers

With Lillard back in the lineup, the Blazers are back to their winning ways. They're playing the way we saw them play before 2022. Without CJ McCollum now, Dame is the sole focus of the offense, and his early game shot attempts show this.

Lillard is attempting nearly 50% of the Blazers’ first three field goals in the young season, and he's been hitting them at a high rate. Against an inexperienced Houston team, I like Lillard to take advantage of the matchup and continue his early season, early game success.

Pick: Damian Lillard


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