NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (2/24)
After jam-packed action on Thursday and Friday, there are only three games on the NBA schedule for Saturday. Here are three plays that I really like for First Basket props.
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Saturday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
It’s been a season to forget for Detroit, who currently owns the league’s worst record. They’ll host a Magic team that is looking at the second half of the season to perhaps stake a claim to the NBA Playoffs. Detroit’s roster has been in flux the last few weeks with the trade deadline and a bunch of roster departures. One player who has remained consistent is the rising star Jalen Duren.
He’s been a really solid piece for Detroit and with Cade Cunningham on the floor with him, he’s been a threat for First Basket. His raw numbers aren’t exactly stunning with nine first team scores and only four First Baskets on the season, but he missed over 20% of the season so far due to injury and was without his running mate, Cunningham, for many more.
Center is one of the weakest spots defensively for Orlando when it comes to early baskets. Detroit likes to get the pick-and-roll game going with Cunningham and Duren early. They’ll attack that mismatch and it makes Duren a really good First Basket value pick.
Pick: Jalen Duren (+750)
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Saturday’s nationally televised primetime game sees the East’s best, Boston, travel to Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks. New York is feeling the effects of some of their key injuries with Julius Randle and OG Anunoby both missed time recently. Boston will come into this matchup looking for a spot to really take control.
For most of the season, Boston has been excellent when it comes to First Baskets. They score first in almost two-thirds of the games they’ve played this season. They share the ball pretty effectively too as all the starters have cashed this prop a good amount of times. The odds of Boston scoring first in this game are pretty good, so I’m targeting two players who could cash this.
Jayson Tatum has not been quite as successful over the last few years when it comes to First Baskets compared to Jaylen Brown, but his forward role on the team makes him a real threat here. He’s already cashed this prop nine times on 13 first scores for Boston. It’s an impressive efficiency number, and he should get early shots here too.
The other name I really like is Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis, no matter what team he has played for the last few years, is a guy who likes to shoot when he gets the ball. That’s why he has a lot of success with this prop. His 11 first Boston scores and eight total First Baskets aren’t terribly impressive, but when you take into account he’s missed a good chunk of games this year it puts the numbers in perspective. Being back in MSG should be an added motivation for Kristaps to put on a show. He’s another solid play for First Basket.
Picks: Jayson Tatum (+500) OR Kristaps Porzingis (+340)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: