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Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (12/31)

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Let’s take a look at the final slate of games in 2022 to find some last First Basket prop winners before the calendar turns to 2023.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls

Cleveland ends 2022 by traveling to division rival Chicago. The Bulls will be on the second night of a back-to-back, so the Cavaliers have the rest advantage here. For First Basket, I’ll be targeting the Cavaliers and, more specifically, Donovan Mitchell.

Cleveland has taken a step forward from the good story they were last year, and Mitchell is a big reason why. They’ve even come out very strong as one of the best First Basket prop scoring teams in the league, doing so at 55.6%, and they’ve done it in eight of their last ten games. Mitchell leads the team in scoring the first field goal for Cleveland in 31.3% of his starts and has cashed a First Basket game prop in 25%.

The matchup favors Mitchell too, as Chicago has given up plenty of First Baskets to shooting guards, 24% of the first field goals they allow. I love Mitchell to take advantage of the rest and Chicago defense to score a First Basket to end the year.

Pick: Donovan Mitchell (+340)

New York Knicks at Houston Rockets

Though it isn’t always translating into wins, the Rockets have been one of the hottest teams as far as First Basket props. It’s a small sample size, cashing this prop eight of their last ten, compared to the full season, but it’s hard to ignore a hot team.

For the Rockets, I like Jalen Green. Green is tied with Sengun for most team first field goals in the last ten games, with four apiece. The reason I lean towards Green is that the Knicks have actually done a very good job of limiting big men from scoring First Baskets. With Mitchell Robinson down low, they pose a challenge to any big man, but with RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson banged up, Green should have every opportunity to score, and he is never one to shy away from shooting.

If you don’t believe Houston’s recent success, I also like Julius Randle. As I stated before, RJ Barrett is out, and Jalen Brunson’s status is up in the air. Randle is already the team leader in First Basket prop scores, take away two of the other key scorers, and he becomes an even more attractive option. He’s a very good bet to pair or take instead of Jalen Green.

Pick: Jalen Green (+650) & Julius Randle (+350)

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