One of the quickest bets you can make in an NBA game is who the first basket scorer will be. The bet usually lasts about 30 seconds, but it’s quite the thrill during that half a minute. There are 9 games on the slate today, and I’ve looked at recent trends and today’s matchups to determine who are the best bets to make for the first basket scorer. Be sure to also check out our NBA picks for today’s games.
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Kings vs Thunder first basket best bet: Domantas Sabonis (+475)
If you’re looking for a player that will be heavily involved in the first play of the game, look no further than Domantas Sabonis. The big man can dribble, pass and shoot at a high level, and he’s been an excellent choice for scoring the first basket this season. Although Sacramento has won the tip only 38% of the time, he attempts the first shot for the Kings roughly 24% of the time. Dating back to the start of the season, he has made the first basket 30% of the time for Sacramento.
It’s clear that they try to feed Sabonis the ball in the paint, and I expect that to continue against a Thunder team that lacks size and physicality. In the last 10 games Sabonis has made the first basket twice and the first basket for the Kings on 5 occasions. I expect the Kings to start scoring early and frequently on the Thunder, and it starts with Sabonis.
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Lakers vs Mavericks first basket best bet: Anthony Davis (+380)
The Mavericks are lethal around the perimeter, but they are incredibly vulnerable in the paint. Anthony Davis will likely be matched up with Dwight Powell, and that creates an immediate advantage for Davis. I anticipate for the Lakers to look to take advantage of that matchup quickly, and it starts on the first possession. Los Angeles has won the tipoff 66% of the time this season, which is tied for the second-highest rate in the league. Once they win the first possession, the ball usually ends up in the hands of Davis or LeBron James.
Davis has attempted the first shot for the Lakers 42% of the time, which is the highest on the team and the third-highest rate in the NBA. Of those shots, he makes the first basket for the Lakers 30% of the time. The Lakers will be without D’Angelo Russell, who has been hogging the ball during the first possession recently — which gives Davis an even better opportunity to be the game’s first scorer.
Check out our Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks predictions
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