NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (4/10)
There are a couple of tip-offs that I can’t wait to wager on. Some of these matchups are complete mismatches, which should give us a better chance at earning a first-basket scorer tonight.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Memphis Grizzlies @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen has won the opening tip in 74% of starts this season. That’s led the Cavaliers to score first 56% of the time this season.
Allen will likely face Trey Jemison of the Memphis Grizzlies. Jemison has been involved in the opening tip ten times this season, but he’s won the tip just once in ten games.
While Allen has added the opening tip in 74% of games this year, Jemison has only won the tip in 10% of games. It’s very likely the Cavaliers will get possession of the ball first and have the first opportunity to score.
Memphis currently leads the league in first baskets allowed to centers. In 79 games, the Grizzlies have watched centers score the first basket in 39% of games.
That’s good news because Jarrett Allen has scored the team’s first basket in 27% of games. He’s got 12 first baskets in 74 games started, which is a solid rate for the big man.
Let’s roll with Allen to score the first basket tonight at +500.
Bet: Jarrett Allen (+500)
Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Clippers
Last night, we watched Drew Eubanks earn the tip over Ivica Zubac. We’ll likely get the same result in tonight’s game between the Suns and Clippers.
Zubac has won the tip just 28% of the time in 67 tries. His lack of success has led to the Clippers scoring first just 39% of the time this season.
He’ll take on Eubanks of the Suns, who has only been involved in the opening tip six times. However, Eubanks has won the tip all six times, including last night against Zubac. The Suns didn’t score first last night after winning the tip. But Phoenix certainly has the higher probability of earning the first possession and then scoring first.
That said, the Clippers have allowed the first basket to centers 29% of the time. They’ve also allowed power forwards to score the first basket 23% of the time. Those are the two positions to look at for the Suns tonight.
Although Eubanks has only started six games this season, he’s got one made first basket. Despite the tiny sample size, he’s ultimately scored the first basket in 33% of games he’s started. But that’s enough to persuade me to take a chance on Eubanks. He scored the first bucket for the Suns yesterday, even if it wasn’t the game’s first basket.
At +850, I’ll ride Eubanks here.
Bet: Drew Eubanks (+850)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: