NBA First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (2/25)
Tuesday’s NBA slate includes seven games as we lock in first-basket scorer picks and predictions. The marquee matchup tonight features Luka Doncic and the Lakers welcoming the Mavericks to town. Plus, we look at the Hornets vs. Warriors matchup for our other pick.
NBA first-basket bets are quick and easy ways to place wagers with bigger payouts - and you'll know if they cash right away. Let's try to find some winners for a pair of games on Tuesday night. Note that all betting lines are accurate as of writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these NBA first-basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 25th.
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Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers host the Mavericks in one of the marquee games on tonight's NBA slate. We have Luka Doncic facing his old team for the first time since Dallas traded him to Los Angeles. That trade is the basis of our first-basket prediction.
On the other side of the deal, Anthony Davis' departure left a void in the frontcourt for the Lakers. Jaxson Hayes is their starting center now. The 7-foot-0 center has plenty of size and athleticism, which is translating directly to opening tip-offs. Hayes has an 8-4 record on tips (66.7% win rate) over his past 12 starts.
Meanwhile, Davis is currently out for the Mavericks right now. Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford are also both sidelined. P.J. Washington, by default, is starting at center and taking the opening tips for Dallas. It immediately gives an advantage to opposing teams to score first. Washington is only 6-foot-6 and is a power forward.
Washington is giving up about six inches to Hayes in this head-to-head matchup. That's a glaring mismatch for jump balls. Washington is 1-1 on his tip-offs since starting at center, but another loss looms tonight.
Back to the Doncic trade. Since joining the Lakers, he's attempted their first shot in three straight games coming into tonight. The only time he didn't was his first game with L.A., which is understandable as he was just getting acclimated to the team.
The Lakers will surely want Doncic to have a big outing in his first game against his old squad. It starts with the first shot and points of the night.
Pick: Luka Doncic (+440)
Charlotte Hornets at Golden State Warriors
Another recent NBA trade provides a potential edge for our other first-basket pick tonight. Golden State’s acquisition of Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline made big headlines across the league. It also notably changed the Warriors' lineup, which is key for predicting this game's first scorer.
The Warriors switched up their starting lineup with Butler in town. Draymond Green is starting at center now in a small-ball center role. Green might be one of the NBA's toughest players, but the 6-foot-6 forward is regularly giving up size in the paint. It also puts Golden State at an immediate disadvantage on tip-offs when facing prototypical centers.
That's the case tonight with Mark Williams at the five for Charlotte. The 7-foot-0 center has been dominant on opening tips this season, with an 18-4 record across his 22 starts (81.8% win rate). He also has about six inches on Green, who's just 1-for-4 on tips as the Warriors' starting center.
Williams sat out Monday's game due to injury management, but he should be back tonight. Since he has that notable size advantage over Green, let's back Williams to score first after winning the tip-off. The Hornets big man leads the team in first shot rate (25%) and has scored the first bucket in 12.5% of his games started so far (second on the team).
Pick: Mark Williams (+480)