NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (11/20)
With an eight-game slate tonight, you can expect eight first-basket scorers. Let’s try and hit at least one of them tonight.
Also, make sure to check out our NBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today’s best prop bets.
Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
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.
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Brook Lopez has already won the tip in 71% of his tries this season, leading the Bucks to score first 57% of the time. He’ll face Nikola Vucevic, who has only won the tip in 7% of attempts. Vucevic’s struggles have resulted in the Bulls scoring first in only 20% of games this season.
The Bulls and Bucks have already played once this season. In that game, Lopez and the Bucks won the tip over Vucevic. Lopez will likely win the tip for the Bucks tonight, giving Milwaukee the chance to score first.
The Bulls have allowed the center to score the first basket in 42% of games this season. Meanwhile, Lopez has added the first basket in three out of 14 games this season. He’s nailed the first basket in 21% of games and has attempted the team’s first basket in 21% of games.
He’s got a great matchup to land his fourth first basket tonight.
Pick: Brook Lopez (+600)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Golden State Warriors
It’ll be Clint Capela for the Hawks going up against Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Warriors. Jackson-Davis has won the tip in 23% of 13 tip-offs.
On the other hand, Capela has won the tip in 73% of his 15 tip-offs. It’s much more likely the Hawks will win the tip and attempt the first shot. After all, the Hawks have added the first basket in 80% of games this season, while the Warriors have scored the first basket in just 46% of matchups.
This year, Golden State has allowed the first basket 29% of the time to small forwards and 29% of the time to power forwards. We’ll want to go after the forwards for the Hawks.
Although Jalen Johnson didn’t play on Monday, he’s projected to be back in the starting lineup tonight. He’d be in the lineup with Zaccharie Risacher, who is the other forward for the Hawks.
The rookie Risacher has attempted the team’s first basket in 38% of games and has four first baskets in 13 games started. He’s earned the first basket in 31% of games. Therefore, we’ll roll with Risacher to add the first basket in tonight’s game.
Pick: Zaccharie Risacher (+900)