Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (10/24)
NBA season is in full swing now, and with eight games tonight, there are plenty of games to choose from for a first-basket bet. Let's look at some games to identify the best first-basket bets.
- Top 3 NBA Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NBA Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NBA Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions
All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have two solid things going for them when it comes to scoring the first basket – a good jump ball success rate and an above-average defense.
Between either Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Goebert, I expect the Timberwolves to secure the ball for the first possession of the basketball game. Even if they don’t, I still feel comfortable leaning on their defense to stop the Spurs from earning the first basket.
As for who to pick, Rudy Goebert has fit right in early on, averaging 16.0 points and 19.5 rebounds per game early in the season. He and Karl-Anthony Towns both have the same odds at +500. However, Anthony Edwards’ usage rate is the highest on the team at 28.6%
I am going to lean toward the value here and trust the usage.
Pick: Anthony Edwards +650
Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls
The Celtics have started the season hot, winning three straight games. Their lead-leading offensive rating and scoring prowess make me lean toward the Celtics scoring first, but I'm going the other side tonight.
Boston ranks in the bottom half of the league in defense. I can see them scoring first if Chicago takes down the opening tip. DeMar DeRozan has been on absolute fire for the Bulls so far this season, and I expect them to go right back to him for some early scoring.
Pick: DeMar DeRozan +550
Denver Nuggets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The easy choice here would be to go with Nikola Jokic. Denver has the scoring abilities, and he is the classic go-to guy. But Portland's defense rating ranks fifth in the league.
The Trail Blazers have also started hot, undefeated so far with their three wins. While their offense as a whole hasn't exactly been stellar, which makes me trust their ability to score early on, there is one guy I do trust: Damian Lillard.
Dame has been unstoppable, with 30 points per game. He can score any which way and is the clear guy the Trail Blazers trust with the ball. If anyone from Portland scores first, Lillard is the easy choice for the player to do so.
Pick: Damian Lillard +600
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