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NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/16)

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We’ve only got two games on the NBA slate Thursday night. Those two games will be featured in a doubleheader on NBA TV.

The Nets will face the Heat, while the Thunder will take on the Warriors.

Therefore, we’ll have just two players hitting first baskets tonight.

Let’s try and hit at least one of them.

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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat

The Miami Heat have won the tip in 82% of games this season. Miami has nailed the first field goal in 55% of games and has taken the first field goal attempt in 82% of games.

Meanwhile, they’ll take on the Nets, who added the tip in only 45% of games. Brooklyn has hit 45% of the first field goal and has attempted 36% of their games’ first field goal.

The Heat have the advantage with the tip. Earlier in the month, Bam Adebayo earned the tip against the Nets’ Ben Simmons, but Simmons scored first despite the Heat attempting the first shot. With Simmons out of the lineup and Nic Claxton back in the lineup, Claxton is now doing the tips.

I still think Adebayo has the advantage over Claxton.

This season, Adebayo and Butler have combined for seven first baskets. Kyle Lowry has one, and no other player on the Heat has hit one. Either selection would be a good one. But since Butler took the first shot against the Nets last time out, we’ll roll with Butler to his his first shot this time around.

Bet: Jimmy Butler (+550) 

Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors

The Oklahoma City Thunder have earned the tip in 64% of games this season. They’ve also hit the first field goal in 64% of games while attempting the game’s first field goal in 55% of games.

Meanwhile, the Warriors, who won’t have Steph Curry or Draymond Green, have earned the tip in 58% of games. They’ve just only hit the first field goal in 50% of games while attempting the first shot in 58% of games.

The Thunder have the edge against the Warriors, especially with the knowledge that Golden State will have a weaker starting five than normal. Golden State will have Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Dario Saric, Chris Paul and Kevon Looney. That doesn’t excite anyone.

Ultimately, the Thunder should win the tip. They’ve had the same starting five in 10 of 11 games this year. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the leading scorer, he hasn’t scored first in any of his ten starts.

Chet Holmgren has added the team’s first field goal attempt in 36% of games and has nailed the team’s first field goal in 45% of games this year. In 11 games, Holmgren has the first field goal in five games.

Let’s roll with Chet.

Bet: Chet Holmgren (+470)

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

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