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NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (1/27)

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Saturday marks the first football-free Saturday since August. With that, the eyes of the sports world will start peering over at basketball. With plenty of bettors looking for action on the NBA slate, there is no better place to start than First Basket props. Here are a few of my favorite plays on the Saturday slate.

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Saturday's Best NBA First Basket Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are hosting the Wizards in a matinee matchup. These are two of the worst teams in the league but there should be plenty of excitement, especially on the offensive end. The Pistons will be welcoming back their franchise cornerstone as Cade Cunningham is expected to return to the lineup.

The Pistons remain one of the hottest teams in the league when it comes to First Baskets, scoring first in around 60% of the games they've played. Washington is about average in their own right, but they've struggled to win opening tips while the Pistons' Jalen Duren is winning them at about 60% too.

With Detroit likely to get the first possession I like them to look to Cunningham early. He has only cashed this prop four times this season, but the matchup with Washington is a good one for him. Washington struggles by giving up first baskets to opposing ball handlers. Cunningham is the primary ball handler and the rest of the team started to flourish offensively in his absence. With more threats around him, he can be less of a focus for the opposing defense and score the First Basket on Saturday.

Pick: Cade Cunningham (+600)

Los Angeles Clippers at Boston Celtics

The Clippers will be on the second day of a back-to-back when they travel to Boston to take on the red-hot Celtics. It's difficult to tell who will be in the Clippers' lineup and who might be taking a rest day, but there is a strong certainty that the Celtics will have their lineup at full strength.

The Celtics are one of my favorite teams to back for First Baskets. As a team, they excel at winning opening tips, and they have a strong offense. They've scored first in over 60% of the games they've played this year. Additionally, they also have some players who have had a lot of success throughout their careers in cashing First Basket props.

One player in particular who nails the First Basket a lot is Jaylen Brown. On the season he already has 10, nearly a quarter of his starts. Additionally, Los Angeles has given up opponents’ first scores to forwards in more than 40% of the games they've played. It's another perfect recipe for a Brown First Basket and I'll be backing him to do so as well.

Pick: Jaylen Brown (+500)

Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks will host the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back. At full strength, these are two of the most exciting offenses in the league. However, we don't know exactly who the Mavericks will be trotting out in their starting lineup. The Kings should be at full strength after their win Thursday night over the Warriors. When it comes to the First Basket, I'll be backing the more rested team.

Both of these teams are pretty successful when it comes to First Baskets, so the rest plays a big factor in this pick. When looking at Dallas' defense against First Baskets this season, there isn't a spot that sticks out like centers or point guards. Due to this, I'm looking at Keegan Murray.

Murray has only cashed this prop five times this season. That's not very impressive, but he's had ample opportunities. In his starts this season, he's attempted the first Kings' shot 11 times. Once he starts hitting these at a higher rate, he'll start racking up more First Baskets so I'm going to take the value on a volume scorer and back Keegan Murray.

Pick: Keegan Murray (+1000)

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

 

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