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NBA First Basket Scorer Prop Bet Picks & Predictions: Saturday (4/8)

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The last Saturday of the season features just three NBA clashes. For one last time this regular season, I'll take a look at the board and find some First Basket props plays to finish off the year strong.

Season to Date: 13-38-5, +5.31 units

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Saturday's Best First Basket Player Prop Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs

The Timberwolves still have much to play for on Saturday as they can jockey around the Play-In seedings, making a path to the playoffs easier. They come into this game with the Spurs as heavy favorites as they're expected to play their normal starters.

Over the entirety of the 2022-23 season, the Timberwolves have been excellent at scoring First Baskets, doing so in nearly 60% of the games they played. Rudy Gobert has been very good at winning the opening tip which has benefitted Minnesota in scoring first. With Gobert expected to start, I like Minnesota to score first again.

Gobert himself is one of my favorite plays for First Basket. On the year he leads Minnesota in first field goals and he has a great matchup with San Antonio. The Spurs have given up First Baskets to opposing centers at a disproportionate clip of nearly 25%. The young Spurs' defense struggles include the post where Gobert can shine. I like him as a play in this matchup.

Anthony Edwards is another play I like here. The Spurs also have given up first field goals to shooting guards at a decent rate, but Edwards is a strong play regardless. He has nearly caught up with Gobert for the team lead in First Baskets as he's thrived since the D'Angelo Russell trade. The numbers and matchup point to Edwards so I'll sprinkle a play on him as well.

Pick: 0.25u on Rudy Gobert (+500) & 0.25u on Anthony Edwards (+480)

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers

When it comes to First Baskets in Clipper games, Ivica Zubac is a name you need to look to play. A matchup with a Trail Blazer team that is tanking to end the year makes Zubac an even more enticing play.

The Clippers haven't been particularly outstanding when it comes to First Basket props, but they are expected to play their normal starters on Saturday. In the last ten games for Los Angeles, Zubac has managed the first team field goal in seven of them. This has led to three First Basket cashes, adding to his team-leading ten on the year.

Portland provides a favorable matchup because, like most teams, they struggle to stop opposing centers early in games. They've given up first field goals to centers in nearly 30% of their games this season and I expect Zubac to add to this trend on Saturday to give us another First Basket winner.

Pick: 0.25u on Ivica Zubac (+550)

Also, check out our other best bets for Saturday:


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