NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (1/1)
There’s nothing like starting the New Year with a longshot win.
With eight games on the NBA slate, we can do just that with the first-basket market. Let’s take advantage with the two picks below.
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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Wednesday’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.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat will have Bam Adebayo for tonight’s tip-off against the New Orleans Pelicans. Adebayo has won the tip in 69% of games this season, but the Heat have only scored first 40% of the time.
If Adebayo continues to win the tip at this rate, the Heat are likelier to score at a higher rate moving forward.
Meanwhile, Adebayo will face off against rookie Yves Missi of the Pelicans. Missi has had a terrific rookie season but has struggled to win the tip. He’s only added the tip in 31% of games, which has resulted in the Pelicans scoring the first basket just 48% of the time. If Missi continues to win the tip just 31% of the time, the Pelicans should regress.
It’s why I’ll back the Heat to win the tip and score first.
The Pelicans have allowed point guards to score the first basket 35% of the time. Starting at point guard for the Heat is Tyler Herro. Herro only has one first basket in 30 games this season. He’s also scored the team’s first basket in just 10% of games. However, he’s got the best potential to score first in tonight’s game.
Pick: Tyler Herro (+550)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Sacramento Kings
With Joel Embiid out for the 76ers, Andre Drummond will participate in the tip-off against the Kings. Drummond has won the tip in 71% of games, which has helped the 76ers score first 60% of the time this season.
Drummond will compete against Domantas Sabonis, who has won the tip in just 21% of games this year. With that, the Kings have scored first just 39% of the time. It’s way more likely Drummond beats Sabonis for the tip.
The Kings are known for allowing shooting guards to score the first basket. Shooting guards have scored the first basket 30% of the time against the Kings.
Philadelphia’s starting shooting guard tonight will be Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre has scored the first basket in four out of 27 games this season. He’s also taken the team’s first field goal attempt in 26% of games. That’s a pretty decent rate. Let’s ride Oubre to score first tonight, especially at +1100 odds.
Pick: Kelly Oubre Jr. (+1100)