NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (4/24)
With only two games on tonight, there won’t be two NBA Playoff games playing at the same time! Ultimately, you won’t even have to change the channel tonight, with both NBA matchups being featured on TNT.
That said, I’ve added a couple of first basket bets that have some value!
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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics won the tip 80% of the time with Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis didn’t play the entire year. There were moments when he was hurt and out. But his domination with the tip led to the Celtics scoring first in 63% of games this season.
Meanwhile, Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo won 68% of the tip this season. Still, the Heat have won and scored first in 57% of games this year.
In this head-to-head matchup, Porzingis has earned the tip in three games against Adebayo this season. Therefore, the Celtics will likely maintain possession and score first in tonight’s game.
The Heat led the league in first baskets allowed to point guards this season. While the Heat didn’t give up many first baskets, when they did, it was mostly to point guards. Point guards added the first basket in 34% of games against the Heat this season.
Therefore, we’ll consider Jrue Holiday to score the first basket at +850 odds. He’s got seven on the season and has attempted the first field goal for the Celtics in 20% of games this year.
Bet: Jrue Holiday (+850)
New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Jonas Valanciunas of the Pelicans will face off against Chet Holmgren of the Thunder. Holmgren has already earned the tip in two of the three head-to-head tip-offs this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder won the tip in 59% of games this season, while the Pelicans only won the tip in 49% of games.
Yet, despite that, the Pelicans scored the first basket 53% of the time, while the Thunder only scored the first basket in 51% of games.
In Game 1 of the playoffs, Valanciunas won the tip, but the Thunder scored first. So we’re all over the place. That said, it’s likely Chet’s turn to win the tip. Valanciunas is more inconsistent and has only won the tip in one of his first three playoff (including play-in tournament) games.
The Pelicans have allowed the center to score the first basket in 32% of games this season. They’ve also given up the first basket to power forwards 26% of the time.
Therefore, it’d be between Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Holmgren scored the first basket in Game 1 and added the first basket attempt in 30% of games this season. He also added 12 first baskets this season, while Williams scored just three first baskets in 71 games.
Let’s roll with Holmgren again.
Bet: Chet Holmgren (+500)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: