NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (5/1)
We’ll only have two first basket winners in the NBA Playoffs tonight. Let’s try to hit at least one of them!
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Wednesday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings)
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
In the playoffs, including the Play-In Tournament, Bam Adebayo has won the tip in 17% of games. The Heat have also yet to score the first basket in the playoffs despite playing in six games. Adebayo is also just 1-3 against the Celtics. However, four of the six games were against Kristaps Porzingis, who had won 75% of tips against Adebayo in the playoffs.
Porzingis is out for the remainder of this series and could miss even more time with an injury. Therefore, it will probably be Al Horford against Adebayo for the tip.
While Adebayo has struggled to win the tip in the playoffs, he’ll have the advantage in tonight’s game. After all, he won the tip in 68% of games in the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Celtics allowed 30% of first baskets to point guards this season. That would ultimately be Tyler Herro, who has only made three first baskets in 40 games. But at +1300, there’s tremendous value for the potential leading scorer on the Heat tonight.
Bet: Tyler Herro (+1300)
Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Clippers
Daniel Gafford should be playing against Ivica Zubac for tonight’s second tip-off. So far, Gafford and Zubac have each won the tip twice. But the Mavericks scored first in three of the first four games.
Ultimately, Gafford and Zubac are both poor at winning the tip. Gafford only won the tip in 38% of games this season, while Zubac added just 28% of tip wins this year.
Zubac’s struggles were more apparent, as the Clippers only scored first 38% of the time this season. The Mavericks scored first 57% of the time this year despite Gafford not being there for the entire season.
That said, Gafford and the Mavericks have more potential to win the tip and take the first shot.
The Clippers have allowed 27% of first baskets to centers, 22% to power forwards, and 22% to shooting guards, the three positions that stand out the most.
Doncic would be the shooting guard for Dallas and has already scored ten first baskets this season in 70 games started. Doncic has also attempted the team’s first basket in 27% of games and the team’s first field goal attempt in 29% of games.
Take a chance with Doncic tonight.
Bet: Jamal Murray (+450)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: