There are nine games on tonight’s NBA slate. That means we’ll also have nine first-basket scorers. I studied each game and added my two favorite first-basket wagers for the slate 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.
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have dominated in the first basket department behind Jarrett Allen. He has won the tip in 79% of starts and has helped the Cavaliers score first 61% of the time.
He’ll go up against Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks, who has only won the tip in 42% of games. Furthermore, the Knicks have scored first just 47% of the time. After all, Towns and Allen have each added one tip-off win against one another this season. But Allen is certainly much better at winning the tip, and the Cavaliers are much more consistent with scoring first.
That said, the Knicks have allowed the first basket to power forwards 25% of the time. They’ve also given up the first basket to shooting guards 23% of the time and small forwards 23% of the time. Those are the positions we’ll want to take a look at with the Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell has added the team’s first basket in 28% of games this season. He’s also attempted the team’s first basket in 28% of games this year. Let’s take a chance with Donovan Mitchell tonight.
Pick: Donovan Mitchell (+480)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The Pelicans will roll with Yves Missi for tonight’s tip against the Clippers. Missi has participated in 63 opening tips this season but has only won 29% of them. That’s not even good enough for one tip-off win in three tries.
Meanwhile, he’ll battle Ivica Zubac of the Clippers, who has won the tip in 50% of games this season. As a result, the Clippers have scored first in 48% of games. Although the Pelicans have added the first basket in 49% of games, it’s still likely the Clippers will win possession first and take the first shot attempt. Zubac has already won multiple opening tips against Missi this season.
That said, 50% of first baskets allowed have come from small forwards and centers.
Zubac is Los Angeles’ center, and he’s added a team-high 13 first baskets this season. He’s also scored the team’s first basket in 30% of games and attempted the team’s first field goal in 33% of games.
I’m on Zubac to score first in this game.
Pick: Ivica Zubac (+460)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:
