NBA First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Saturday (3/15)
Saturday's NBA action is a jam-packed slate with many teams in action. This means there is a lot of opportunity to find plays for any NBA fan or bettor. If you're looking to get in on the action early, here are a few value first-basket plays.
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Saturday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Props
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
There is a pretty wide gap between these two teams in many categories. One is first basket production. Boston has been one of the better teams in the league while they've been even hotter over the past few weeks, even without Kristaps Porzingis, who is winning the opening tip at a nearly 70% rate. They'll go up against a below-average first-basket team in the Nets.
One matchup that stands out in Boston's favor points to Jaylen Brown. Brown leads the Celtics in first baskets, first-team scores and first-basket shot attempts. If there's a first basket indicator, he typically leads in it. Going up against Brooklyn, who has surrendered more first scores to wings than any other position, Brown is a must-play on Saturday.
Pick: Jaylen Brown (+460)
Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an easily moveable object? Well, exactly what you think will happen. That's the case on Saturday when Chicago takes on Houston. Chicago has been the worst team in the league all season when it comes to first baskets and is particularly inept at stopping opposing centers. On the Houston side, you have a center that is one of the most efficient first-basket scorers in the league.
Alperen Sengun has put up incredible numbers for this prop. He's managed 15 first baskets this season and a league-leading 26 first-team scores. If he's in the lineup, Houston is looking to get him going early. In this no-brainer matchup with Chicago, I'll back Sengun to add to these totals.
Pick: Alperen Sengun (+380)
Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks
A big game for Eastern Conference playoff seeding is taking place in Milwaukee on Saturday. These two teams played an epic affair on Tuesday that resulted in one of the wildest finishes of the season. What do they have in store for an encore?
Giannis Antetokounmpo ended Tuesday's game by missing a game-winner at the buzzer. I think he's going to look to shoulder much of the responsibility from Tuesday's loss and look to avenge it with a big game. That means starting from the first possession. On Thursday against Los Angeles, he added his 17th first-team score. I like him to do that again here. With a massive opening tip advantage in favor of Milwaukee, I think he can cash it in with a first basket.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+390)