NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Thursday (12/19)
After two days with only one game, we’ve got a massive slate in the NBA tonight. Let’s take advantage of a couple of first-basket props.
Also, make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
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Thursday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Who will score the first basket in today’s NBA game? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
Phoenix Suns vs. Indiana Pacers
The Phoenix Suns will ride with Jusuf Nurkic in tonight’s tip. He’ll go up against Indiana’s Myles Turner tonight.
Turner has only won the tip in 48% of games this season. With his lack of success, the Pacers have only scored the first basket in 44% of games this season.
On the other hand, Nurkic won the tip in 83% of games, while the Suns only scored first in 56% of games. Still, it’s much more likely that the Suns will win the tip and take the first shot, which would ultimately help them score first in this game.
Indiana has given up the first basket to shooting guards the most. Shooting guards scored the first basket in 27% of games, while centers, power forwards, and small forwards scored the first basket just 20% of the time.
Devin Booker is Phoenix’s shooting guard. He’s added the first field goal attempt for the Suns in 40% of games. He’s also hit three first baskets in 25 games. Let’s give Booker a try tonight.
Pick: Devin Booker (+490)
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
The Golden State Warriors will have Kevon Looney compete for the opening tip against Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies.
Looney has participated in only four tips this season. In those four games, he’s won one tip-off. Meanwhile, the Warriors have also scored the first basket in only 44% of games this season.
On the other hand, Jackson Jr. has won the tip in 78% of games, which has resulted in the Grizzlies scoring first 67% of the time. Memphis certainly has the edge in the first-basket market tonight.
Furthermore, the Warriors have allowed the first basket to small forwards 36% of the time and power forwards 29% of the time. We’ll target those two positions.
Jaylen Wells will play small forward, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will play power forward. Ultimately, Jaren Jackson Hr. has added the team’s first field goal attempt in 28% of games and has three first baskets in 25 games. Wells doesn’t come close to those numbers.
Let’s take Jaren Jackson Jr. to score first in this game.
Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr. (+490)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday: