Tuesday's NBA slate is filled with seven games on the schedule. There are plenty of ways to go for our first-basket scorer picks, so let's dive right in. Our first basket predictions today feature the Trail Blazers vs. Hawks and the Warriors vs. Grizzlies 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, April 1st.
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Tuesday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Portland Trail Blazers at Atlanta Hawks
Sometimes, NBA first-basket scorer picks are more about fading a team or player than anything else. That's the case with the Portland Trail Blazers tonight as we target the Atlanta Hawks to score first. Plus, we're fading Blazers center Donovan Clingan on the opening tip-off.
The rookie Clingan has struggled on tip-offs this season. He's won eight opening tips in 30 starts this season, for a poor 26.7% win rate. Clingan also has just a 5-12 record on jump balls in his past 17 starts (29.4%). Plus, Portland has scored only 30 first baskets as a team this whole season, which is tied for the second-lowest in the NBA.
On the other side, Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu isn't anything special on tip-offs with a 17-16 record. Again, though, we're fading Clingan and the Blazers. As for Atlanta, let's roll with Mouhamed Gueye to score first. The second-year power forward actually leads the team in first shot attempt percentage (20.8%) and first baskets per game started (16.7%).
Gueye has only started 21 games, but those are still notable trends. Plus, Gueye has nearly as many first baskets (four) as Trae Young (five) in about a third of the sample size. He presents a ton of value at his long odds.
Pick: Mouhamed Gueye (+850)
Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
If Memphis is on the slate, then the Grizzlies should be strongly considered for first-basket scorer props. The Grizz boast a 69.3% win rate on opening tip-offs this season, the third-highest mark in the NBA. They've also scored 43 first baskets so far, which is tied for the second-most in the league.
A big reason for those impressive stats is rookie center Zach Edey. At 7-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Edey is a physical mismatch on jump balls, and he's in the upper tier at winning them. The Memphis center has a 23-10 record on opening tip-offs over his past 33 starts, including winning 14 of his past 19 tips (73.7%).
Edey should have the advantage on tonight's tip. Draymond Green has been starting as Golden State's small-ball center and taking the jump balls lately. At 6-foot-6, Green is giving up 10 solid inches to Edey on the tip-off. The Warriors as a team only have a 39.2% win rate on opening tips as well.
For Memphis, let's target Demond Bane to score the first bucket. His 24.2% first shot percentage, 13 made first baskets and 21% first baskets per start all lead the team this year. He's usually a safe bet to be the first scorer with those strong trends.
Pick: Desmond Bane (+600)
