NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Monday (12/2)
While tonight’s slate includes only four games, we will only have one game at this time next week. So let’s enjoy it while we can.
That said, with four games, there are four opportunities to win a first-basket bet. I’ve picked out two and wrote about them below.
Also, make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
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Monday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Who will score the first basket in today’s NBA games? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Atlanta Hawks
The New Orleans Pelicans will likely roll with Yves Missi as the tip-man tonight. The Pelicans’ rookie has already attempted to win the tip 14 times and has added a win rate of just 29%.
Missi will go up against Clint Capela, who has added the tip in 62% of games this season. His tips have resulted in the Hawks scoring the first basket in 67% of their games this season.
Oddly enough, Missi has already faced Capela this season and won the tip against him. That’s why I’m even more confident Capela will get the best of Missi this time around.
The Pelicans have allowed the first basket to point guards 27% of the time. Trae Young only has two first baskets in 20 games. However, he’s still attempted the team’s first field goal in 20% of games. I’ll test my luck with Young at +460 odds.
Pick: Trae Young (+460)
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls might as well not even send out Nikola Vucevic for the tip. In 21 tries, Vucevic has earned the tip in just 5% of games. As a result, the Bulls have scored the first basket in 14% of games this season.
On the other hand, Vucevic will compete against Nic Claxton of the Nets. Claxton has only attempted the tip in seven games. However, he’s won the tip in 43% of games. If he continues this rate, the Nets will see a higher rate of first baskets, as it’s only at 38% this season.
While Chicago has allowed the first basket in 86% of games, the Bulls have given up the first basket to centers 50% of the time. Since Claxton has only played in seven games, he doesn’t have a big sample size this season. However, Claxton has a first basket in one of the seven games and has scored the team’s first basket in 29% of games this season.
Let’s give him a try.
Pick: Nic Claxton (+700)