NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/19)
The final two NBA Playoff spots are up for grabs on Friday night. The Bulls will travel to Miami to take on a short-handed Miami team. Then the Kings look to beat a Zion Williamson-less Pelicans team in the nightcap. Both games should be exciting in this do-or-die format.
Here are my favorite plays to start the action with a First Basket.
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Friday’s NBA First Basket Scorer Best Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
The Heat were dealt a massive blow after losing to the 76ers on Wednesday night. They'll be without Jimmy Butler for the foreseeable future, including this must-win game against the Bulls. For Chicago, they may be without Alex Caruso who was shaken up in their win over the Hawks. Both of these teams will need a good start to the game, so the fight for First Baskets should be hot.
In the postseason, matchups become so much more important on every offensive possession. That's one reason I love Bam Adebayo in this game. The Bulls have struggled more against opposing centers regarding First Baskets than any other position. He pulled out a winner in one of his two starts against Chicago and averaged 23.5 points in those games. With Butler out he'll be the focal point on offense for the Heat.
It's not just a Chicago thing, either. Adebayo has been the best player for the Heat when it comes to First Baskets. He's produced 14 on the season and has scored first for the Heat in 27 of his starts. With a great matchup against the Bulls, he's my favorite pick for Miami in this game.
Adebayo is the only pick here with fully healthy lineups, but that's not the case Friday night. Jimmy Bulter will be out of the lineup, and one player who may benefit the most from this is Ayo Dosunmu. The young guard for Chicago could get an extra boost, too, if Caruso cannot play. With Coby White exploding against the Hawks, he should also attract a lot of attention from the Miami defense. All of this could leave Dosunmu with some great early scoring opportunities.
Dosunmu has been surprisingly strong with this prop, although he isn't a huge piece of the Chicago offense. In limited starts this season, he's compiled 13 first scores for the Bulls and managed to cash this prop six times. He's a solid value play in this game.
Pick: Bam Adebayo (+450) & Ayo Dosunmu (+850)
Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans
Tuesday night was a tough game for the Pelicans. After digging a huge hole against the Lakers, they clawed all the way back behind Williamson's heroics only to lose the star to an injury late. They'll take on a Sacramento team that looked excellent in sinking the Warriors on Tuesday. This will be a winner-take-all game while a first-round series against the Thunder awaits.
Both teams have been about average regarding First Baskets this season, so it's best to focus on matchups. New Orleans scored first in three of the four games between these opponents, and Williamson was the player who had the most success for the Pelicans. He had two first-team scores in his three starts. Unfortunately, he won't play in this game, so we must look elsewhere.
Brandon Ingram is the player I'm focusing on. He had a tough end to Tuesday’s game, as he sat on the bench while the Lakers pulled away. New Orleans will need him to show up here, and he's the best scoring option on the roster. He's had some success with this prop during the season. He already hit this 11 times, so adding another to the list wouldn't be a huge surprise.
Pick: Brandon Ingram (+600)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday: