Best NBA first basket scorer prop bets for today 3/17: Zach goes on the attack

San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins
Photo of Germantas Kneita

Germantas Kneita

NBA

Show Bio

Like most Lithuanians, I started watching basketball from the age of six. I'm based out in London and played basketball at the University of Lincoln here in the UK. I had always had an interest in the NBA but things really took off in the summer of 2010. That year Linas Kleiza led Lithuania to 3rd place at the World Championships and signed with the Toronto Raptors to replace the departing Chris Bosh. I've been a Raptors fan since that day and I've not missed a game since. I've been handicapping games for more than a decade, specializing in player props.

St. Patrick’s Day brings an 8-game NBA slate to kickstart the weekend. The night’s featured games on NBA TV will see 4 teams that are right in the mix in their respective conferences. In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are separated by just 2 games, while the Atlanta Hawks have the Toronto Raptors breathing down their necks.

Take a look at my NBA first-basket scorer props for Friday below and remember to check out the rest of today’s NBA picks too.

You can bet on these NBA picks with FanDuel, America’s #1 sportsbook, which has a great sign-up offer where you can get 10x your first wager in bonus bets up to $200! Click here to take advantage of this offer.

Grizzlies vs Spurs first basket best bet: Zach Collins (+850)

The San Antonio Spurs have had some relative success jumping for the ball. Over the last 10 games they have had the opening possession on 5 occasions. There is a good chance they will have the ball to begin this game against the Memphis Grizzlies too. The visitors have Jaren Jackson Jr. available, who is the league leader in blocks per game.  I expect the Spurs to look to try to force him out of the paint from the get-go. That would involve establishing Zach Collins as a perimeter threat. The center is making 57.1% of his 3-point attempts in March. If he gets hot early, Jackson Jr. would have to respect him and close out aggressively on the perimeter. Look for Collins to open the scoring, perhaps with a triple.

You can bet on today’s NBA action over at DraftKings Sportsbook, which has a great sign-up offer where you can bet $5 and instantly get $200 in bonus bets regardless of whether your team wins! Click here to take advantage and claim your bonus bets right now.

76ers vs Hornets first basket best bet: Joel Embiid (+280)

With Mark Williams remaining out tonight for the Charlotte Hornets, Nick Richards should once again get the start. That would leave Joel Embiid with a major size advantage when jumping for the tip and in the post throughout the game. It should make him a clear #1 option for the 76ers first possession too. He has made the team’s opening shot in 3 games over his last 10 starts. The Hornets are in the bottom 10 in the league in opponent points in the paint during that stretch. They have also scored the game’s opening basket just 3 times during that time. It will give Embiid and the 76ers a great chance of doing that tonight.

Check out JutPicks’ NBA player prop picks for Friday’s games

Pelicans vs Rockets first basket best bet: Jonas Valanciunas (+600)

The Houston Rockets have won the tip just twice in their last 10 games. They will struggle to change that against Jonas Valanciunas, who has won 60% of his jump balls during that time. The Lithuanian should have a size advantage over both Jabari Smith Jr. and Alepren Sengun, with the Rockets pair likely to struggle dealing with his physicality. With the Rockets 27th in defensive rating over the last 10, they should issues forcing stops too. Valanciunas has knocked down the Pelicans’ first shot 4 times over the last 10 games, just behind Brandon Ingram, who has done so on 5 occasions. With the center having a clearer matchup advantage, I am giving him the edge.

BetMGM is the king of online sportsbooks, and right now they have a great new customer promotion where you can claim a $1,000 deposit bonus by signing up right now! Click this link to join BetMGM.

Pickswise is the home of free NBA Picks and NBA Predictions. Check out the latest NBA Prop Bets and NBA Parlays as well as NBA Best Bets from our NBA experts. 

Virginia Bonuses

See All
BetMGM

$1,025

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Bet on CBB Tournament and get $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets if you Don't Win + $25 Bonus Bet

Register for a new BetMGM account & deposit

Place your first bet and get refunded up to $1,000 in bonus bets if you don't win

Plus receive a $25 Bonus Bet after placing your qualifying wager

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, OH, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, Nevada, New York or Ontario

FanDuel Sportsbook

$1000

Get a $1,000 No Sweat Bet on any CBB Tournament Game!

Sign up for a new FanDuel Sportsbook account

Make a first-time deposit of $10+, and then place your first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook

New customers get their first bet paid back in bonus bets up to $1,000 if you lose!

Must be 21+. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire 14 days after receipt. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook.

DraftKings

$150

Bet $5+ any College Basketball Pre-Game ML And Get $150 in Bonus Bets if your Team Wins

Sign up for a new account with DraftKings Sportsbook and make your first deposit

Make your first deposit and bet $5+ on any pre-game ML

Get $150 in bonus bets if your team wins

Gambling Problem? Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MD/MI/NJ/NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in OH/ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min. $5 bet. $150 issued as bonus bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com..

Unibet

$100

Virginia Bettors- Get a $100 Free Bet for the CBB Tournament

Register for a new Unibet account & make a deposit

Place your first bet up to $100 free!

Get refunded up if you lose up to $100

New players only. Terms & conditions apply. 21+. VA only.

bet365

$365

Bet $1 on the CBB Tournament and Get $365 in Bonus Bets at bet365!

Register for a new bet365 account

Place qualifying bets of $1 or more

Get $365 in bonus bets - no matter if your bet wins or loses

New Customer Offer. Deposit required. Bonus Bets added to Bonus Bet Credits balance. Bonus Bet risk excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply. Must be physically located in VA.

WynnBet

$100

Bet $100 on the CBB Tournament & Get $100 Bet Credit

Register for a WynnBET account today.

Deposit & Wager $100 on any sports market (odds -120 or greater).

Get a $100 Bet Credit.

Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

BetRivers

$500

Get a $500 Free Bet for the CBB Tournament

Sign up for a new BetRivers account using promo code PICKSWISE

Make your first deposit & get up to $500 in free bets

To get $500 in free bets, wager $500

Must be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS OFF

Caesars Sportsbook

$1,250

Your First Cash Bet on the CBB Tournament Is On Caesars Up To $1,250

Sign up for a new Caesars Sportsbook account and Place your 1st wager of $10 or more

If you lose, you get 100% of your stake back as a Bet Credit - up to $1,250.

AND win or lose, you’ll also get 1,000 Reward Credits® and 1,000 Tier Credits.

21+. Terms and conditions apply.

DraftKings

$1,000

Get a $1,000 Deposit Bonus when you bet on the CBB Tournament

Create a new DraftKings Sportsbook account and make your first deposit (min $5)

DraftKings will match 20% of your deposit up to $1,000 total

To get a $100 bonus, deposit $500

21+. Terms & conditions apply.

BetMGM

$1,000

Get $1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets if you Don't Win your CBB Tournament Bet

Register for a new BetMGM account & deposit

Place your first bet up to $1,000!

Get refunded up to $1,000 in bonus bets if you don't win

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI). Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in DC, Nevada, New York or Ontario

TVG

$200

Get Your First Single-Horse Win Wager Back Up to $200 if you don't win

Register for a new TVG account and make a deposit

Place your first single horse win-type bet up to $200

If your horse doesn't win you'll get a refund up to $300

21+. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly.

TwinSpires

$200

Get a $200 Sign-Up Bonus with Twinspires Racebook!

Open your TwinSpires.com account using offer code BET200

$200 bonus cash will be credited in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered

To earn the full $200 bonus players must wager $800 within 30 days

21+. Terms and conditions apply.

Underdog Fantasy

$100

First deposit is 100% matched up to $100 with Underdog Fantasy

Sign up for a new account with Underdog Fantasy

Make your first deposit

Every dollar (up to $100) will be matched! Deposit $25, get $50; deposit $100, get $200, etc

Must be 21+ to play. Terms & conditions apply

Owners Box

$500

First Time Deposit Bonus Up To $500

Sign up for a new DFS account with OwnersBox

User's first deposit will be matched up to $500 in site-credit

Join one of their Daily NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL contests

You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to receive deposit bonuses, participate in Contests, or win prizes offered through OwnersBox Contests. In jurisdictions, territories, and locations where the minimum age for permissible use of Contests is greater than eighteen (18) years old, you must meet the age requirement in your local jurisdiction or territory.