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NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/8)

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With the In-Season Tournament knockout rounds in full swing this weekend, the rest of the league is also getting two games scheduled. These games mean no more than any regular season game, but because of this, we get a full 13 game schedule on Friday. This gives us so many opportunities for First Basket props. Here are a few of my favorite plays on Friday night.

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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets

Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic

After deciding to rebuild around the same time, these teams have gone in vastly different directions in the past 12 months. Detroit has really fallen off while the Magic are one of the biggest surprises in the East. Orlando is more than capable of keeping Detroit off the scoreboard enough to win the game, but can they hold them off the scoreboard first? The numbers say they won't.

Detroit, for all of it's major flaws, has been really strong at First Baskets. Like most teams, they've excelled scoring these with their bigs, but center Jalen Duren is out for a while with a sprained ankle and the matchup with Orlando points me in another direction.

Orlando has given up first opponent field goals to guards in well over half of their games this season. With this and the injuries to Detroit's big, I'm taking Cade Cunningham for First Basket. Detroit is on an endless losing streak and they really need a strong start here. They'll look to Cade who leads them in scoring to get going and I think he'll comply.

Pick: Cade Cunningham (+650)

Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Hornets

The Raptors will visit the Hornets here amongst two teams that would like to be in the playoff picture but find themselves on the outside looking in right now. Both of these teams still have a lot of firepower, but only Toronto has been successful at First Baskets this season.

Toronto is scoring first in nearly three-quarters of their games this season. Their wings are carrying the majority of the load, scoring the Toronto first field goal in 60% of the games. No one has done it more than Pascal Siakam. He led the Raptors in this category last year as well and it's no surprise as he's been Toronto's star for a few years now.

Siakam also has a decent matchup with Charlotte. The Hornets are giving up over 60% of their opponent first field goals to bigs. Siakam isn't a traditional big, but his size and skill allows him to play a bit in the frontcourt as a big-wing hybrid. The numbers point to this being a really solid play.

Pick: Pascal Siakam (+500)

Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets

When in doubt, take the best player in the NBA. Jokic continues to be  most talented and the most productive player in the league. Pick a prop and he's likely to excel at cashing it. First basket props are no different.

Jokic leads Denver in first team field goals. This is no surprise as getting him going early can spell a long night for any opponent. Even with a cast of really capable scorers around him, Jokic is still the go-to guy early.

Houston provides a solid matchup for Jokic as well. Houston gives up well over 25% of their opponent first field goals to centers and no center in the league is as talented with the ball as Jokic. Throw in Houston's young frontcourt and it's a defensive matchup that Jokic can really take advantage of and he should right from the jump.

Pick: Nikola Jokic (+400)

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

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