NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (2/28)
I’m excited for tonight’s first-basket market. I’ve found two centers who have won the tip in over 80% of games over their last 20. That should at least help us find the team that will score first.
Now we just have to figure out the players who will score first. I’ve got the suggestions below.
Make sure to check out our NBA first basket cheat sheet for even more betting advice.
Plus, be sure to join our BettingPros Discord to discuss the best first-basket bets for each and every slate of NBA games with our community of sports bettors!
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls
Jarrett Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers have won the tip in 80% of their last 20 games. Allen has already been involved in 52 opening tips this season and has won 75% of the time.
Throughout the year, he’s already 2-0 against Chicago’s center, Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic has won the tip in only 35% of games this season, helping the Bulls score first in just 47% of games this year. The Cavaliers have scored the first basket in 56% of matchups.
The Bulls have given up the first basket to point guards in 35% of their last 20 games. However, Darius Garland hasn’t scored a first basket in any of his last 13 games. Only Donovan Mitchell has been consistent, scoring 28% of the first basket while scoring the team’s first basket in 33% of the last 20 games.
Garland is a sneaky value play, but the Bulls have still allowed 20% of first baskets to small forwards in the last 20. We’ll roll with Mitchell here.
Bet: Donovan Mitchell (+500)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t great at many things this season. However, winning the tip is one of them.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has added the first tip in 81% of his last 16 games. In other matchups, he’s also 2-1 against Rudy Gobert this season.
Jackson has ultimately won the tip in 69% of games this season. Gobert has only won the tip in 45% of matchups. Because of that, Minnesota has only scored first in 43% of games this year. The Grizzlies have added the first basket in 53% of games.
Therefore, I like Memphis to get on the board first.
Minnesota has allowed power forwards to score the first basket in 30% of games this season. Power forwards have also scored 30% of the first baskets against Minnesota in the last 20 games.
With Santi Aldama and GG Jackson also in the lineup, the Grizzlies have multiple power forwards. But I’d say Aldama is the power forward for this Memphis lineup. He’s scored the team’s first basket in 33% of his last nine games. Let’s take a flier on Aldama tonight.
Bet: Santi Aldama (+950)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: