Saturday's NBA action is a full slate that is packed with 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)
Sacramento Kings at Orlando Magic
Both of these teams are fighting for playoff positioning. It's a big game for both teams as they both look to get off to a hot start. Combing over the numbers, I like Orlando here. Domantas Sabonis has been pretty poor on the opening tips this season, while Wendell Carter Jr. has been solid. With a likely opening tip win, the Magic have the first score edge.
Sacramento hasn't been great at scoring first this year either, a likely product of their poor tip winning percentage. Specifically, they've given up over 43% of their opponent’s first scores to bigs, and the Magic have a couple of good ones. I like Paolo Banchero in this matchup. In only 39 starts this season, Banchero has accounted for the first Magic points in 13 of them. This has only translated to four first baskets, but I like those tides to turn on Saturday.
Pick: Paolo Banchero (+440)
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
The Miami Heat look to have finally gotten out of a long funk and are playing some good basketball. They'll get a 76ers team headed in the opposite direction on Saturday. Philadelphia is wearing thin, especially at the center position, which gives Miami a massive advantage off the jump.
If Miami is winning the tip, I'll be looking at Bam Adebayo to score the first basket. He picked up his 13th first basket on Thursday - that was also his 21st first-team basket, accounting for 30% of his starts. Miami likes to go to Adebayo early. He'll have a massive mismatch against this undersized Philadelphia frontcourt. Adebayo is the smart pick in this game.
Pick: Bam Adebayo (+450)
Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls
Although the Bulls have quietly played some of their best basketball in recent weeks, including a buzzer-beating win over the Lakers on Thursday, they've continued to struggle on first baskets. Dallas has remained strong in this prop despite some massive roster flux. Dallas has also recently welcomed back Anthony Davis, who has been a great first-basket scorer his entire career.
Given Chicago is the worst first-basket team in the league and they give up a ton of first scores to bigs, I'll be looking at Davis. He's only made 45 starts this year due to injury, but he has seven first baskets and 13 first-team scores, which comes out to around 30% of his starts. With an NBA Play-In Tournament spot still up for grabs, I like Dallas to push hard down the stretch. That starts with an early score for Davis.
Pick: Anthony Davis (+330)
