NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Tuesday (4/22)
The NBA playoffs roll on with three more games on Tuesday night. We have some intriguing matchups on tap, so let’s find some NBA first-basket scorer picks for two of those games.
NBA first-basket bets are quick and easy ways to place wagers with bigger payouts, and you'll know if they cash right away. Check out predictions for the Timberwolves vs. Lakers and the Bucks vs. Pacers Game 2 matchups tonight.
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 22.
Tuesday’s Best NBA Playoffs First Basket Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday's late-night NBA playoffs matchup features Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Lakers. We're looking at an opening tip-off of Jaxson Hayes vs. Rudy Gobert to determine which team will win the first possession and (potentially) score first.
In Game 1, Hayes won the opening tip over Gobert before Los Angeles scored the first six points. Let's count on Hayes besting Gobert again tonight. Since becoming the Lakers ‘ starting center, he has a 66% win rate on tip-offs this season. Minnesota has just a 51.8% win rate on opening tips this year.
After Hayes gives LA the first possession, multiple trends point to him scoring first as well. The Timberwolves allowed opposing bigs (centers and power forwards) to score the first basket in 50% of games this year. Meanwhile, centers scored the Lakers' first basket in 34% of games.
Hayes' 16.4% first shot percentage this season trails only Luka Doncic for the Los Angeles team lead. His 12.5% first baskets per start rate is second to Doncic as well. Since Luka scored first for LA in Game 1, let's bank on the numbers swinging to Hayes' favor for Game 2.
Pick: Jaxson Hayes (+550)
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
The Pacers took Game 1 in this series with the Bucks on Saturday. Milwaukee will be looking to even things up on the road, and it all starts with the opening tip-off.
In Game 1, Pacers center Myles Turner won the tip over Bucks big man Brook Lopez. Then, Turner hit a three-pointer on the opening possession to cash in as the first basket scorer. Despite both results, the trends and stats point to the opposite happening tonight.
In their careers, Lopez has a 12-4 head-to-head record on opening tips against Turner. He's dominated this jump ball matchup. Of course, Turner had the upper hand in Game 1. Expect Lopez to bounce back and win the tip tonight. Turner has just a 29% win rate on tip-offs this season, while Lopez is at 59%.
As for the Bucks, let's back Giannis Antetokounmpo to make a statement early and score the first points en route to a strong first quarter. In Game 1, Giannis scored three of Milwaukee's first four buckets and put up 12 first-quarter points.
Antetokounmpo's 11 made first baskets led the Bucks this year. His 15.9% first baskets per start rate leads the squad as well. Meanwhile, the Pacers allow 40% of opposing first baskets to big men (centers and power forwards). It's a good spot for Giannis to go right at Turner and/or Pascal Siakam to score in the paint.
Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+360)