NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Tuesday (12/10)
Tuesday's NBA slate features only two games but it's bound to be an entertaining one. The NBA Cup quarter-finals begin with the Magic vs. Bucks and the Mavericks vs. Thunder. Let's make NBA first-basket picks for both matchups before they get underway.
NBA first-basket bets are quick and easy ways to place wagers with bigger payouts - and you'll know if they cash right away. 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, December 10th.
Also, check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
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Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee hosts Orlando in the first of two NBA Cup quarter-finals games tonight. When it comes to a first-basket pick, it's important to understand the home team's success in this area. The Bucks have won the opening tip-off in 60.9% of their games this season and scored the first basket in 14 out of 23 games (60.9%).
Brook Lopez gives Milwaukee a great chance at gaining the first possession in tonight's game, as he's done all season. The 7-foot-1 Lopez has a few inches on Orlando's starting center, 6-foot-10 Goga Bitadze. The two have only faced off once on an opening tip in their careers and Lopez won it (last year). He's also won seven opening jumps against Orlando since the 2020-21 season.
For the Bucks, Damian Lillard leads the team in first shot percentage (21.1%) and first baskets per game started (26.3%). He's also scored five of their 14 first baskets for a healthy 35.7% rate. Milwaukee looks to get Lillard involved early, and that's even more true for these NBA Cup games. He's scored the first bucket in three straight NBA Cup games heading into tonight.
Pick: Damian Lillard (+490)
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder
The second leg of tonight's NBA Cup doubleheader features Dallas visiting Oklahoma City. This game includes plenty of star power on both sides with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams in action. Yet, the role players could determine who scores the first basket.
With Chet Holmgren still out, Isaiah Hartenstein is starting at center for Oklahoma City. He has a 5-2 record on opening tip-offs since entering the starting lineup. The Thunder have also scored the first basket in four of those seven games. The 7-foot-0 Hartenstein gives Oklahoma City a much better chance at gaining the first possession than when Jalen Williams was previously taking the initial jump balls.
At 7-foot-1, Dallas center Dereck Lively may have an inch on Hartenstein but it may not matter. Lively has just a 7-5 record on opening tips in his 12 starts this year. Plus, the Mavericks' 45.8% tip rate overall this year gives value to the Thunder getting the ball and scoring first.
If we bank on an Oklahoma City first basket, there's some value on starters other than Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams - who have combed to make only three first buckets on the season. Luguentz Dort isn't a prolific scorer by any means, averaging 9.8 points per game. Yet, Dort has just as many made first baskets this season (two) as Gilgeous-Alexander to tie for the active team lead. He's worth a dart throw at +1000 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook - especially since there is no obvious pick.
Pick: Luguentz Dort (+1000)