NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (2/7)
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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Toronto Raptors vs. Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have been among the worst teams at scoring the first field goal this season. The Hornets have won the tip in 44% of games but have only scored the first field goal in 33% of matchups.
Charlotte has also attempted the game’s first field goal in 46% of matchups but has needed 1.8 shots per game to score the first basket.
Meanwhile, the Raptors have only won the tip in 50% of games. But they’ve added the first field goal in a league-high 70% of games. The Raptors have also taken the game’s first field goal attempt in 46% of games but have needed just 1.3 shots to score their first bucket. That’s one of the best rates in the NBA.
We’ll likely see Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Gary Trent Jr., and Jakob Poeltl in tonight’s starting lineup. While Scottie Barnes has the best probability of scoring first, Gary Trent Jr. has taken the team’s first field goal in 27% of games he’s started, which is just 1% lower than Barnes.
Barnes is at +550, but Trent Jr. is at +750 to score first.
Trent Jr. has added the team’s first field goal attempt in 27% of games and has scored the team’s first field goal in 27% of games. In just 15 starts, he’s added four first field goals. I think he’ll add another one tonight.
Bet: Gary Trent Jr. (+750)
Detroit Pistons vs. Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are heavy favorites to defeat the Detroit Pistons tonight. However, the first field goal tonight might surprise you.
The Kings have won the tip in only 29% of games this season. They’ve still scored the first field goal in 49% of games and have attempted the game’s first field goal in 45% of matchups. It’s just that the Kings struggle to win the tip to begin games.
The Pistons don’t. Detroit has won the tip in 54% of games and has scored the first field goal in 60% of matchups. Everything goes downhill for the Pistons after that. But they’ve consistently scored the first basket and have attempted the first field goal in 52% of games this season.
Detroit will likely have a starting five: Jalen Duren, Bojan Bogdanovic, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Kevin Knox.
However, Bogdanovic has taken the team’s first field goal attempt 31% of the time and has added the team’s first field goal in 31% of games. When he starts, he has the highest percentages of the team, beyond Duren and Cunningham.
Let’s ride with Bojan Bogdanovic at +700.
Bet: Bojan Bogdanovic (+700)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: