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NBA First Basket Scorer Prop Bet Picks & Predictions: Friday (2/3)

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Last weekend saw us cash two First Basket props, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Let’s see if we can find some more winners for this Friday night and keep our hot streak alive.

  • Season to Date: 2-4, +1.5 units

And check out Friday’s other best bets:

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

Friday’s Best First-Basket Bets

Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons

The Hornets travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons in a game that has very little bearing on the playoff picture, but has plenty of intrigue for First Basket.

Detroit comes into this game with one of the worst defenses in the league and one of the worst teams at winning the opening tip, which in part makes them one of the worst First Basket teams. That is what points me to Charlotte for this play. The player I’m focused on here is Terry Rozier. Rozier isn’t the Hornet that cashes this the most often, with only three first field goals in 42 starts, but the matchup here is what I like.

The young guards in the Detroit lineup have been a revolving door, both as far as availability and defensive prowess. Giving up 27% of first field goals to shooting guards is no surprise. Rozier is a veteran guard who knows how to score. I like him to take advantage of a matchup and cash a First Basket prop.

Pick: 0.25u Terry Rozier (+700)

Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards

For this First Basket play I’m going to target a player I like to go to often, and for good reason. Kristaps Porzingis is one of the most successful First Basket prop scorers and the Wizards are one of the most successful First Basket prop teams. Washington has scored the first field goal in 58% of games this year.

Porzingis's skillset makes him a matchup nightmare and next to Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford he becomes an even bigger threat. He also loves to put up shots. No one on the Wizards takes more first field goal attempts than Porzingis, not even Bradley Beal.

In a matchup where Portland is likely without Nurkic, Porzingis becomes an even more interesting play as he plays a sort of hybrid power forward-center position on offense for Washington. Going up against a backup, Porzingis is a solid First Basket play for Friday night.

Pick: 0.25u Kristaps Porzingis (+600)

Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets

Toronto is healthier now then they’ve been for most of the season. Having Siakam, VanVleet, Barnes and Trent all in the lineup could lead them on a run to get back into playoff contention. A matchup with Houston could be just what the doctor ordered. Not only do I like them to get on track here but I like them to cash the First Basket prop.

Houston’s defense is one of the three worst in the league per adjusted defensive efficiency. Looking at their opponent first field goal distribution, there isn’t really a position that gives them more trouble than others. With no clear cut matchup advantage, I am going with Pascal Siakam.

Siakam leads the Raptors with 17 first team field goals and a whopping 11 first field goal prop cashes. I could see him doing the same here. He is capable of scoring from all three levels and the Rockets don’t really have the defensive stoppers that can slow him down. Siakam puts up over one field goal on average of Toronto’s first three attempts per game. With his volume and ability to cash this prop often, I love Siakam for another First Basket on Friday night.

Pick: 0.25u Pascal Siakam (+400)


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