Tuesday's NBA slate is a small one with four games on the schedule. Yet, we still have you covered with some first-basket scorer picks and predictions before the action begins. Our first basket picks feature the Cavaliers vs. Clippers and the Nets vs. Celtics matchups.
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, March 18th.
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Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers
Cleveland continues to be a profitable team to back in the first basket-scorer prop market. The Cavaliers have a league-best 77.6% win rate on opening tip-offs. Jarrett Allen is excellent on the opening tips to give his team the first possession. The Cavs have also scored the first bucket in 40 games this year, tied for the second-most in the NBA.
Bank on Allen to win the jump ball against Clippers center Ivica Zubac. In recent seasons, Allen is 2-1 on tips vs. Zubac over their past three meetings. Furthermore, the Cavaliers have scored first in four straight meetings with the Clippers.
Los Angeles has a 52.9% win rate on opening tips this season. That would be favorable against most of the NBA but not when the opponent is Cleveland.
As for the Cavs, let’s roll with Evan Mobley to score first. His 15.8% first baskets per game started rate leads the team and his nine made first baskets are tied for the team lead. Mobley has a notable size advantage over Kawhi Leonard, who likely starts at power forward for L.A. Tuesday night.
Pick: Evan Mobley (+600)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
Sometimes injury situations impact our first-basket scorer picks. Tuesday’s Nets vs. Celtics game falls into that category with Kristaps Porzingis back healthy. Porzingis returned to Boston’s lineup on Saturday after missing two weeks with an injury.
Porzingis’ return directly impacts the Celtics’ first-basket scorer predictions. The 7-foot-2 big man has won the opening tip-off in 24 of his 33 starts this season, an impressive 72% win rate. Porzingis is also 18-5 on tips in his past 23 games and has won seven straight coming into Tuesday night. That includes Saturday when Porzingis won the tip against Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe.
Meanwhile, it’s usually safe to fade Brooklyn on tip-offs. The Nets have a poor 38.8% win rate on opening tips this year, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. They’ve also scored the first basket in just 29 out of 68 games thus far (42.6%).
Boston and Brooklyn just faced each other on Saturday and Porzingis won the tip, but the Nets scored first. The Celtics should be on the right side of the prop this time. Nic Claxton should be back at center for Brooklyn. Porzingis is 3-1 on tips vs. Claxton in their last four meetings.
Let’s roll with Porzingis to score the first points after he wins the tip. His 24.2% first baskets per game started rate leads the team this year. His 18.2% first shot percentage is second behind only Jaylen Brown, but he’s also played in 23 fewer games.
Pick: Kristaps Porzingis (+500)
