NBA Playoffs First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (4/18)
There are three NBA playoff games tonight. The quickest way to get into the action is first basket betting. Betting the first basket is one of the most simple bets in sports betting. Pick the player to score the first basket of the basketball game to win.
Let us look into the matchups tonight to find the best first basket bets. Do not blink, or you might miss it.
NBA First Basket Cheat Sheet: View advice for today's best bets >>
Tuesday's Best First Basket Player Prop Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
The first part of betting on which team to score the first basket is determining which team will win the first possession. The Atlanta Hawks have won first possession three out of the four times these teams have played, including Game 1 of this series. That means the Atlanta Hawks have the advantage for scoring the first basket in this matchup.
The next piece of first-basket betting is picking the player who scores first. That player for the Hawks is John Collins. He has made or shot the first or second basket for the Hawks every time they have played the Celtics. That consistency gives Collins plenty of betting value tonight.
First Basket: John Collins (+1000)
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
The New York Knicks have won the first possession four of the five times that they have played the Cavaliers, with that lone tipoff loss coming in Game 1. The Knicks’ consistency on tipoffs has been fantastic, and I believe they have the highest chance for the first possession tonight.
The player most likely to score first is Jalen Brunson. He has become the best scorer for the Knicks towards the end of the year. He averages 27 points per game, and they play through him and Randle offensively. Brunson has plenty of upside tonight against the Cavaliers.
First Basket: Jalen Brunson (+650)
Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns
The Clippers and Suns have split the first possession through this season series. However, the advantage goes to the Suns. When DeAndre Ayton does the tipoff, the Suns are 2-1 at winning the first possession. That means they have the highest probability of the first possession tonight.
Tonight the player most likely to score first is Kevin Durant, one of the league’s best scorers. The Clippers struggled to defend Durant in the last game, giving up 27 points. That means the Suns will continue to play through Durant until the Clippers prove they can stop him.
First Basket: Kevin Durant (+440)
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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.