Friday's NBA action is a jam-packed slate with plenty of games on the schedule. This means there is a lot of opportunity to find plays for any NBA fan or bettor. If you're looking to get in on the action early Friday, here are a few First Basket plays with value.
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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Props
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors
Not many people are talking about this matchup between two lottery-bound teams but it's a game I'm focused on for First Basket. Both of these teams are actually strong first-score teams with Toronto being one of the best in the league. I'll be backing the Raptors here and hoping they can exploit a good positional matchup in the process.
Utah gives up over a quarter of their first opponent scores to the big men down low. Jakob Poeltl leads all Raptors with his 15 first-team scores in 48 starts on the season. He will be out Friday due to rest but that means it's a great longshot opportunity for Chris Boucher. I'll be backing the big man in a strong positional matchup spot.
Pick: Chris Boucher (+950)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
The Suns had some fight in them Tuesday night and will look to see if they can continue that on Friday. Their opponent, the Denver Nuggets are a formidable foe but when it comes to First Baskets but they've hit a speed bump. The Nuggets haven't scored first in a single game since the All-Star break and I don't expect that to change on Friday.
Phoenix has plenty of strong scorers in their lineup but I'll go with the guy that has shown a ton of consistency all season, Devin Booker. Book has quietly put together a phenomenal scoring season and that includes early in games where he leads the Suns with 17 first-team scores, over 30% of his starts. The Nuggets are a team you can attack with your guards and I like Booker to get hot early here.
Pick: Devin Booker (+600)
New York Knicks at Los Angeles Clippers
Fresh off of a 50-point performance on Wednesday against the Pistons, James Harden will be looking to stay hot. He'll get an opportunity against the Knicks in a big Friday night game. I like Harden to stay hot.
Harden has scored the first team basket for the Clippers in back-to-back games. These were his ninth and tenth times achieving that feat this season. It's not a very high number but Harden is a Hall of Fame talent who once he gets hot can stay hot. I'll back that hot hand on Friday night and take Harden to round out my First Basket card.
Pick: James Harden (+800)
