Top NBA First Basket Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/3)
The NBA only has a two-game slate on the horizon tonight.
Luckily, Houston and Philadelphia aren’t playing in the NBA tonight.
Philadelphia and Houston are playing a Game 5 in the MLB World Series and will play in Thursday Night Football simultaneously. I feel for those fans. I hope most of you have multiple televisions.
Anyway, with the two-game slate, it’s our job to figure out who will score first in each.
Here are four potential options for tonight’s NBA First Basket market.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Golden State Warriors vs. Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have only won the tip 25% of their first eight games. It’s likely that the Warriors, who have won the tipoff 50% of the time, will start the game with the ball.
They’ve needed just 1.9 shots to score their first field goal, while the Magic have needed 2.6 shots. However, both teams score the first field goal 62.5% of the time.
Wiggins scored the first field goal twice for the Warriors and the first basket for Golden State in three games. He’s averaging 1.13 shots per the first three shots of each game.
Paolo Banchero is the best choice for the Magic if you’re backing the Magic to score first. He’s also scored two first baskets for the Magic and has three of the team’s first field goals to start the season. Banchero has scored 1.25 shots per the first three shots by the Magic.
You can’t go wrong with either one of these options. Just don’t get fooled with Steph Curry at +460 odds. He hasn’t taken a first field-goal attempt this season and hasn’t made a first field goal for the Warriors all season.
Bet: Paolo Banchero (+550)
Bet: Andrew Wiggins (+700)
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won the tip 57.1% of the time and have scored the first field goal 57.1% of the time. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are less efficient, earning 42.9% of the tips and scoring 42.9% of the first field goals.
It’s taking the Thunder 2.4 shots to score their first field goal, while the Nuggets need 2.1 shots to score their first.
For Denver, Michael Porter Jr. is the most consistent first-basket scorer. He’s scored the first field goal twice and made three of the team’s first field goals this season. He’s only started in six games. He’s practically scored first for the Nuggets in half of the game he’s started.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are all over the place with their first field goals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored the first field goal twice but has only taken .83 shots of the first three shots for the Thunder per game.
Josh Giddy is taking one shot per the first three shots in the four games he’s started. Giddey’s got odds of +1100 and already has a first field goal this season in four tries.
Bet: Michael Porter Jr. (+500)
Bet: Josh Giddey (+1100)
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