Friday's NBA action is a jam-packed slate. 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.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls
There are very few matchups throughout the year where the Trail Blazers have an advantage on the opening tip or the First Basket race. Against the Bulls on Friday night is one of those. Nikola Vucevic has been awful on the opening tips all year. Enough so that Donovan Clingan, who hasn't been great himself in that stat, has a big advantage.
Because of this tip advantage, I like the Trail Blazers to score first and it's Clingan who should get a good shot at the first score. He only has two First Baskets on the season but against a team like Chicago that gives up almost one-third of opponents’ first scores to centers, he's a solid value play on Friday night.
Pick: Donovan Clingan (+700)
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers
No player has been hotter at First Baskets than Jaxson Hayes. He's been exceptional on the opening tips, winning around two-thirds. Additionally, he's getting the Lakers' first score in around half of his starts with a 30-game sample size. His eight First Baskets nearly lead a Laker team that has guys like LeBron James and Austin Reaves starting twice as many games.
New Orleans hasn't done much well this season including winning opening tips since Yves Missi started getting starts at center. They've given up half of their opponents’ first scores to bigs and Hayes should be no exception. He's an easy play for Friday night.
Pick: Jaxson Hayes (+420)
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers
Anthony Davis makes a return to Los Angeles, but in this one, it's against the Clippers. Dallas has been playing some really strong basketball down the stretch and looks to slip into the Play-In games. In order to keep pace, they'll need another strong showing against the Clippers and will be looking for a hot start.
I'll be looking at the Mavericks' star player for First Basket. Davis has had a strong First Basket season regardless of his injuries. In 48 starts he's scored his team's first points in 29%. About half of those resulted in a First Basket for The Brow. He has a strong matchup against a Clipper squad giving up nearly half of their opponents’ first scores to bigs so I'll back him by the numbers.
Pick: Anthony Davis (+650)
