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NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/27)

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Yesterday, Giannis cashed the First Basket to give us another positive day. Thursday only has one game on the schedule, but it's a very exciting one as the Hawks host the Celtics looking to force a Game 7. I'll have a few different plays with varying unit sizes that I like in this matchup.

Season to Date: 17-49-5, +6.07 units

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Thursday’s Playoffs First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks

Clint Capela and the Hawks have dominated the opening tip in this series thus far. Winning four of five opening tips in the season, the Hawks have been able catapult Capela's success into scoring four straight First Baskets. 

Pick: 0.4u on Clint Capela (+1000)

In the series, no one has been getting early scoring opportunities like Trae Young. It's no surprise, as he's led the Hawks in First Baskets all year. Among the first three field goal attempts by Atlanta in this series, Young is averaging 1.4 of them per game, or nearly half the attempts. Trae stirs the drink for the Hawks and I like a play on him to get things started in a must-win Game 6.

Pick: 0.25u on Trae Young (+600)

On the other side of the court, I also love Jayson Tatum for First Basket. Tatum has yet to cash one of these in the series, but it’s not for lack of trying. He's been averaging 1.2 of the Celtics first three field goals in the series, so he's getting the opportunities. He's been the leading scorer for the Celtics all year, and I like playing him to break through for a first basket in Game 6 finally.

Pick: 0.25u on Jayson Tatum (+500)

If you want to get a little wilder, there is one long shot I like. Short trends can be tough to determine what is real and what is noise. One example is De'Andre Hunter scoring two First Baskets in this series. On the surface, it seems like noise, considering it's a series featuring stars like Young, Tatum, Dejounte Murray and Jaylen Brown. However, Hunter has a very positive matchup, as Boston gave up well over 40% of their opponents’ first field goals to wing players. Given his recent success and the matchup, it is worth making a very small play on Hunter at long odds.

Pick: 0.1u on De'Andre Hunter (+900)

Check out the other best bets for Thursday:

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