With tonight’s NCAA Men’s College Basketball National Championship, the NBA only has two games on the slate.
I looked at each game and added a first basket wager for these matchups below.
Follow along and 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.
Sacramento Kings vs. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have won the tip over 47% of the time this season. Meanwhile, they’ll face a Kings team that has only won the tip in 37.2% of games this season.
Jalen Duren will likely beat Domantas Sabonis for the tip, giving the Pistons the first chance to score tonight.
Ultimately, Tobias Harris has attempted the first shot in 10.1% of games this season. He’s also scored the first basket in 17.4% of games for the Pistons this season. However, the Kings have allowed the first basket to power forwards the second-fewest number of times. They have allowed the first basket to shooting guards 28% of the time, though, and centers 25% of the time.
Tim Hardaway Jr. looks like the best play tonight. After all, the Pistons shooting guard has scored the first basket in 9.7% of games and has eight first baskets this season.
Pick: Tim Hardaway Jr. (+700)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
Behind Bam Adebayo, the Miami Heat have won the tip in 61.5% of games this season. Meanwhile, they’ll take on a Philadelphia 76ers team that has ultimately thrown in the towel.
The 76ers will have Adem Bona as their tip man tonight. He hasn’t participated in many games this season. Still, the 76ers have only won the tip in 41% of games this season, a drastically different rate than what the Heat have done.
That said, the 76ers have allowed the first basket to centers 26% of the time this season. Adebayo has scored 14 first baskets to lead the Heat. He’s also scored the first basket in nearly 19% of games this season while taking the first shot in 20% of games this year.
Back Bam Adebayo, even at +425 odds. His numbers look good to start the game against the 76ers.
Pick: Bam Adebayo (+425)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:
