NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/16)
First baskets are always fun because it's a big payoff if you hit them. Let's see who is grabbing the first score on today's slate.
Sunday's Best NBA First Basket Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Anthony Davis (+460)
The Lakers will not have an easy path to a championship, but they had a great end to their season to put themselves in this position. Several stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis are dealing with injuries, but everyone should be good to suit up and ready to play.
The Grizzles have dealt with injuries and a few off the courts, and that’s why some of their stars missed time, but they were able to pull through and get the 2-seed. This team will need to use their youth and athleticism because the Lakers have experience on their side.
It will be tough for them to get the first basket of this game. Anthony Davis has been one of them, and not having Steve Adams hurts the Grizz at tip-off.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+460)
Milwaukee is a strong competitor coming into this postseason and has the best odds of winning the championship. This team is strong on both sides of the court and finished in the top half in scoring offense and defense.
Miami could not replicate the success from the previous season, in which they finished as the top seed in the East. A big reason is that while they still possess one of the better defenses in the league, they finished scoring the fewest points per game.
The Bucks have the heavy advantage in first baskets with 61% to the Heat's 40%. You have to look at Antetokounmpo as a large favorite to grab the first basket as he leads the team making 17.5% of the first baskets, and the Heat is allowing 25.7% of first baskets to power forwards, which is the second-highest.
Rudy Gobert (+1000)
The Nuggets grabbed the top seed in the Western Conference and will take on the Timberwolves. It seemed like Denver coasted into the end of the season and went just 7-10, including being in jeopardy of losing that one seed.
They will have to flip a switch to take on Minnesota, who faced some adversity towards the end of the season but won back-to-back games to earn this position.
These two teams have been very successful at grabbing the first, but Minnesota has been especially great by grabbing 63% in first baskets. Rudy Gobert has been a key part of getting the T-Wolves their first basket thanks to his 61% tip win and leading the team with 13 first baskets. The Nuggets have been vulnerable by allowing the most first points to centers.
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