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NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Tuesday (4/23)

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The NBA playoffs are here, and there is no quicker way to get in on the betting than first basket betting. It’s the easiest way to kick off your night of betting, and the goal is simple. Pick the first player to score and cash out. That makes this one of the more simple NBA bets.

Let us look at the best first baskets for tonight, April 23. And check out our NBA First Basket Cheat Sheet to find the top picks across all NBA games.

Tuesday’s NBA First Basket Scorer Best Bets

Who will score the first basket in today’s NBA games? We compare historical first basket stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View first basket odds across sportsbooks here.

(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)

Phoenix Suns @ Minnesota Timberwolves

There are two parts to first basket betting. The initial challenge is picking the team that will win the first possession. Phoenix has the advantage when it comes to winning the first possession. They won three out of the four tipoffs against the Timberwolves this season. That means the Suns will get the first opportunity to shoot the ball tonight.

Kevin Durant has taken the first shot in the last two games that these teams played each other. His ability to score the basketball makes him a constant threat to score the ball. That ability and high usage rate early against the Timberwolves give him betting value.

Bet: Kevin Durant (+450)

Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have dominated the tipoff against the Pacers this season. They have won the tipoff five of the six times these teams have matched up against each other. That kind of consistency is what bettors want to look for when picking a first basket bet. 

Damian Lillard is the best scorer for the Bucks right now. He has taken the first shot in two games against the Pacers. His ability to shoot the ball from multiple levels makes him one of the best players to score first in this game. The Bucks will also want to get him involved early. 

Bet: Damian Lillard (+400)

Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Clippers

Either of these teams could win the tipoff, but I like the Mavericks here. Dallas has been slightly more consistent at winning the tipoff, which helps them a little bit in tonight’s game. They also have a couple of elite scorers who can put the ball in the basket.  

Few players in the NBA can score like Luka Doncic. He has great size and can shoot the ball from almost anywhere on the court. That makes him difficult to defend. He is the No. 1 option for the Dallas Mavericks and will have plenty of opportunity to shoot the basketball in this matchup. 

Bet: Luka Doncic (+450)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.

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