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NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/22)

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The holiday weekend is upon us, a marquee time for the NBA. We get things started on Friday night with a light slate. Here are a couple of my favorite First Basket plays to get your weekend started off on a winning note.

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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets

Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets

The Nuggets travel to Brooklyn on Friday night to take on the Nets. Denver has been playing at a championship level once again and their success has been extending to First Baskets as well. Against Brooklyn, one matchup catches my eye as one that must be a play.

Brooklyn has shown a soft spot in their early game defense against bigs, particularly centers. They’ve given up nearly 40% of their opponent first field goals to centers. That’s a problem against a lot of teams, but it’s bigger deal against the best center in the league.

Nikola Jokic is the Denver offense. He has scored the first Denver field goal in almost half of the games he’s played this season. That’s translated to cashing a First Basket prop in about one-third of the games he’s started this season. There are few safer bets than Jokic when it comes to this prop and in this matchup he’s a must play.

Pick: Nikola Jokic (+470)

Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets

This matchup of in-state rivals provides one of the most interesting First Basket matchups on Friday night. For all of Houstons’ improvement on the offensive end, it hasn’t translated to First Baskets this season. They’ve scored first in well under half of their games this season. Dallas, meanwhile, with their firepower has had a lot of success with the prop.

Luka Doncic often creates a solid matchup with most teams, but I’m looking at a little bit of a longer play for this game. Houston has given up their first opponent field goal to bigs at a rate well over 50%. In this matchup I like Grant Williams.

Williams is far from the first option in an offense that typically sports Luka and Kyrie Irving, but he’s already had some success with this prop. He’s scored the first Denver field goal four times this season, three of which resulted in a First Basket. His ability to score at any spot on the court makes him a good longshot threat for this prop. I like him again on Friday.

Pick: Grant Williams (+1300)

Washington Wizards at Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have started to find their stride since Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely last week. This is in part because Steph Curry has really started to get hot at this point of the season. Him taking his game back to where it’s been for much of his Hall of Fame career giving the Warriors hope that the season isn’t lost. It’s also a reason I like him for First Basket on Friday night.

Steph also has a great matchup against this Washington defense. The Wizards haven’t really impressed many on that side of the ball, especially early in games. One particular weakness is point guards, who they tend to give up a good portion of their opponent first field goals towards.

Curry has only cashed this prop twice this season. However, one of those happened Tuesday night. I’m ready to play the hot hand and back Steph again in a great matchup against a reeling Washington team.

Pick: Steph Curry (+550)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:

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