NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Friday (5/17)
The second round is coming to an exciting conclusion with a few series still up in the air. The Knicks and Pacers will converge in Indianapolis as the Pacers try to extend this series to a Game 7. Here are a couple of my favorite picks for NBA First Basket scorer.
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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Player Prop Bets
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers
After looking like Indiana might start to run away with this series after Games 3 and 4, the Knicks responded big time at home and are on the brink of reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. Although they’ll be on the road, I expect them to want to punch Indiana in the mouth early.
No player on the Knicks, or in the playoffs, is more capable of providing that punch than Jalen Brunson. He has been the straw that stirs the drink for New York. It’s been that way all season. Throughout the regular season and postseason, he has attempted the first shot for the Knicks in just about half of his starts. This has led to a team-leading 32 first-team scores and an impressive 14 first baskets.
The matchup with Indiana has been good for Brunson. They give up more first-team scores to point guards than any other position. That has reared its head in this series as Brunson has scored first for the Knicks in four out of five games, including two first baskets. If anyone is scoring first for the Knicks, it’s Brunson.
NBA First Basket Pick: Jalen Brunson (+550)
Of course, there are two teams in this series and the Pacers have scored first in two of the five contests. Andrew Nembhard scored one and Aaron Nesmith scored the other; however, I’m not focused on either of these players. New York is thin down low and although Isaiah Hartenstein had an excellent Game 5, the Knicks gave up nearly half their opening scores this year to opposing bigs.
Myles Turner is a good option. He’s been quiet this series with zero first baskets or first-team scores, but he’s had a few early shots that didn’t result in a score. During the season he was successful with this prop. His 25 first-team scores led the Pacers and that resulted in 15 first baskets. The series has been a small sample size and the numbers indicate Turner is still a solid play.
Pascal Siakam has had a little more success in this series when it comes to early scores. He provided Indiana with their first points in Game 3, immediately after the Knicks scored first. That was his 20th first-team score of the year between his time in Toronto and Indiana. His 13 first baskets sit just behind Turner. Considering he’s had more looks while also having the position matchup, I would look at Siakam for first basket, too.
NBA First Basket Pick: Myles Turner (+500) | Pascal Siakam (+550)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday: