NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (11/24)
Friday is here again and with it comes more In-Season Tournament games! Another great sports weekend is upon us, including a full slate of NBA action. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite spots to back for First Baskets on Friday night to get off to a strong start on your betting weekend.
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NBA First Basket Scorer Picks for Friday
Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks
The Wizards travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks. Big changes to the Wizards’ roster this offseason have resulted in what they probably expected: even less wins than before. The defense has been atrocious, ranking 27th in adjusted defensive rating. They’ll take on an elite offensive unit from the jump in Milwaukee.
The Bucks remain one of the best First Basket teams in the league, dating back to last year. I’ll be targeting them in this game too. Washington provides a good matchup for them, especially their bigs. The Wizards have allowed almost 45% of opposing first scores to bigs. This makes me like Giannis.
Giannis has had a lot of success with this prop over the last two years. I backed him last weekend and he came through. I’m going to ride that hot hand against an overmatched Washington defensive front court.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+260)
Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have been one of the biggest surprises from a wins and losses sense this season. The surge has been led by a stellar defense, which has boded well for them even in first score situations.
The Kings are a team that allowed more First Baskets than they’ve scored themselves. They’ve been particularly adept against wing players like the Timberwolves’ leading scorer Anthony Edwards. Edwards has lit up the boxscore to the tune of 26.1 PPG. Against this Sacramento defense he should have success early and often. His ability to score from deep and at the rim makes him a particularly great play for this Friday night game.
Pick: Anthony Edwards (+430)
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers
The Pelicans travel to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers. Los Angeles has seemed to find it’s stride in the last week with a three game win streak, albeit against Houston and San Antonio. When it comes to First Baskets, they still haven’t been particularly great, allowing their opponents to score first more often than they do themselves.
New Orleans has been a solid First Basket team dating back to last year and one player that quietly has excelled at the prop is Jonas Valanciunas. The matchup with the Clippers is really positive too. Los Angeles gives up around a quarter of all their opponent first scores to centers and Valanciunas will be more than happy to take what the defense is giving him. He’s one of my favorites plays for Friday night.
Pick: Jonas Valanciunas (+600)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:
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- Thor Nystrom’s Best College Football Week 13 Bets (2023)
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