NBA First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (3/26)
There are six games on tonight’s NBA slate.
Of the six games, I’ve found two first basket options you’ll want to consider tonight. Tune in below.
Follow along and 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 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.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers
The Los Angeles Lakers will send out Jaxson Hayes for tonight’s tip. He’ll go up against Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers.
Hayes has won the tip in 63% of games this season. The Lakers have also scored the first basket in 59% of games this year. On the other hand, the Pacers have scored the first basket in just 41% of games. In addition, Turner has won the tip in only 26% of games this season.
It’s way more likely that Hayes earns the tip and allows the Lakers to score first.
That said, the Pacers have allowed the first basket to shooting guards 26% of the time and centers 26% of the time. Those are the two positions we’ll want to look at for tonight.
Hayes has only started 25 games this season. However, in those 25 games, the Lakers’ center has scored the team’s first basket in 40% of games and has added the team’s first field goal attempt in 32% of games. He’s got six first baskets in those 25 games, which is as many as LeBron James, who has started 60 games this season.
Take a chance with Hayes.
Pick: Jaxson Hayes (+600)
Phoenix Suns vs. Boston Celtics
The Celtics will roll with Kristaps Porzingis for tonight’s tip against the Suns. He’s set to compete against Nick Richards of the Phoenix Suns in a battle for the first possession.
Porzingis has won the tip in 67% of games this season. Ultimately, the Celtics have scored first 51% of the time. Conversely, the Hornets have scored first 53% of the time, but they’ll have Richards for the tip, who has won possession just 41% of the time this season.
The Celtics, behind Porzingis, have a much better chance at gaining possession and taking the first shot.
Meanwhile, the Suns have allowed the first basket to centers 32% of the time.
Porzingis hasn’t played a whole lot this season, but he’s Boston’s center. Porzingis has added nine first baskets in 36 starts this season. He’s also scored the team’s first basket in 50% of games where he’s started. Plus, he’s taken the first field goal attempt in 42% of the games that he’s started.
Let’s ride with Porzingis here.
Pick: Kristaps Porzingis (+410)