Tuesday's NBA slate is a smaller one with just four games on schedule. Even so, there are plenty of ways to go for our NBA first-basket scorer predictions. Before the action tips off, let's make a couple of NBA first-basket picks for the Lakers vs. 76ers and the Bucks vs. Trail Blazers matchups.
NBA first-basket bets are quick and easy ways to place wagers with bigger payouts - and you’ll know if they cash right away. Let’s try to find some winners for a pair of games on Tuesday night. Note that all betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these NBA first-basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, January 28th.
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
Who will score the first basket in today’s NBA games? We compare historical first-basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first-basket odds across sportsbooks here.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Milwaukee Bucks at Portland Trail Blazers
Our top NBA first-basket pick today brings us to a late-night tilt between Milwaukee and Portland. The second leg of tonight's TNT doubleheader presents an interesting matchup when it comes to predicting the first scorer. Let's dive in.
Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton has missed the past two games with a knee injury and could be sidelined again tonight. That means rookie Donovan Clingan would get the start. Despite being 7-foot-3, Clingan may be overmatched on the opening tip-off based on his own track record and the tough head-to-head spot.
Clingan has just a 2-8 record on opening tips over 10 starts this season. His size has been overshadowed by his lack of experience on these tips against NBA bigs. Meanwhile, the Bucks have a 62.8% win rate on tip-offs this year with Brook Lopez at center. The veteran consistently gives his team the majority of opening possessions and chances to score first.
The first-basket production is spread out pretty evenly among Milwaukee's starters this season. Let's go with Damian Lillard, who scored the Bucks' first points when they faced Portland earlier this month. Lillard also took three of the team's first four shots in that game, including the initial field goal attempt. His six made first baskets and 16.7% first baskets per game started rate both lead the team so far.
Pick: Damian Lillard (+550)
Los Angeles Lakers at Philadelphia 76ers
For our other first-basket prediction, let's head to the early game in the TNT doubleheader. The Lakers visit the 76ers in this one. Philadelphia's injury situation gives Los Angeles an edge right away to score first - and that's where we're going.
Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond are both out for Philly. That puts Guerschon Yabusele in the starting center spot again. Yabusele has had some decent games recently in his starts, but that hasn't translated to winning tip-offs.
Yabusele has a 3-11 record on opening tips this season, including 1-8 in his past nine. At 6-foot-8, he's an undersized center and is regularly at a disadvantage on jump balls. That should be the case tonight with Anthony Davis in the lineup for Los Angeles.
The Lakers have a 58.1% win rate on opening tips this year with Davis at center for most games. Though L.A. is on the second leg of a back-to-back, it hasn't mattered much for jump balls. Davis is 4-1 on tip-offs in the second game of back-to-backs this season - and he's scored the Lakers' first points in three of those five.
Davis has the clear talent and size advantage over Yabusele tonight. Let's bank on the Lakers' center to win the tip and then score the first points in his favorable head-to-head matchup. Davis' six made first baskets are tied for the team lead with Austin Reaves. Since Embiid and Drummond are both sidelined, look for Davis to get going right away to cash this pick.
Pick: Anthony Davis (+400)
