NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (1/31)
With so many games on the slate, trying to figure out who will score the first basket in all of these games can get a bit overwhelming.
I’ve done the work for you and added some first-basket props to my betting portfolio for tonight.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat
I love picking on the Kings. While Sacramento has earned the first field goal in 51% of games, they’ve only added the tip in 27% of games this season.
The Kings have essentially lost the tip in three of every four games. They’ve also attempted the game’s first field goal in only 44% of games this season.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat have won the tip in 60% of games and have scored the first field goal in 55% of matchups. Miami is more consistent with earning the tip and taking the first shot. Therefore, the Heat have a much higher probability of scoring first against the Kings tonight.
The Heat are expected to start Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, and Haywood Highsmith.
Only Adebayo has been consistently scoring first out of this bunch.
Adebayo has started 37 games and has taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 41% of games. He’s also added the team’s first field goal in 30% of matchups, which is 8% higher than Jimmy Butler’s number of 22%.
Highsmith and Herro each have just one first field goal in starts with the Heat, and Rozier doesn’t have any. I’ll trust Adebayo in this spot.
Bet: Bam Adebayo (+370)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Dallas Mavericks have only won the tip in 47% of games this season. However, Dallas has also scored the first field goal in 62% of games and has attempted the game’s first field goal attempt in 57% of matchups.
The Mavericks have only needed 1.4 field goal attempts to score their first basket this season.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have only won the tip in 41% of games. They’ve added the first field goal in 43% of games and have attempted the game’s first field goal attempt in 41% of games.
Minnesota has needed 1.6 field goal attempts to score the first bucket. The advantage goes to the Mavericks here.
However, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II won’t play in this game. Those three have accounted for over 75% of the team’s first field goals this season.
Instead, it’ll be Tim Hardaway Jr., Jaden Hardy, Dwight Powell, Grant Williams, and Josh Green.
Hardaway Jr. doesn’t have a first basket and hasn’t started many games this season. However, Grant Williams has still attempted the team’s first field goal in 23% of games and has attempted the team’s first field goal attempt in 19% of games.
At +1100, Grant Williams has a ton of value.
Bet: Grant Williams (+1100)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: