Filip Tomic
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Friday’s 3-game slate in the NBA playoffs features a pivotal Game 3 at Madison Square Garden between the Cavs and Knicks, while elsewhere in the Association we have the Hawks and Timberwolves looking to avoid going down 3-0 to the Celtics and Nuggets. I’ve prepared a couple of first basket scorer bets for tonight’s action, which you can find below. Our NBA experts have been on fire with our first basket picks in the postseason, currently holding a profit of +11.5 units. Let’s keep that going tonight!
You can also head over to our NBA predictions page for picks on the side and total for all 3 games being played tonight, but for now, let’s get into my NBA first basket best bets.
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Celtics vs Hawks first basket best bet: Jaylen Brown (+500)
If there’s an extra incentive for someone to grab the first basket in this game, it’s Jaylen Brown. Playing in front of his hometown fans will be extra motivation for Brown, and Atlanta is one of the potential destinations rumored for him in case the Celtics don’t offer him the super max this summer. Brown has already made the first basket once in this series, after stealing the ball from Trae Young and driving home for a layup in Game 1. In Game 2, he made the Celtics’ first shot, so it’s pretty clear that they are turning to him early.
Atlanta’s backcourt of Young and Dejounte Murray just isn’t physically strong enough to deal with Brown and he’s exploited that multiple times already in this series. Brown is also the leader in first baskets made for Boston over the last 10 games, doing so 4 times. In 67 games this season, he’s done it 15 times while accounting for 37% of attempts. Let’s hope he can maintain that same energy heading into Game 3. At +500 odds, there is some value here.
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Cavaliers vs Knicks first basket best bet: Julius Randle (+600)
The Knicks have gotten off to hot starts in both games of this series so far, turning to Jalen Brunson to score the first basket in each of them. Brunson delivered on both occasions, despite Mitchell Robinson losing both opening tips against Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. However, with the home crowd behind him, I believe Robinson will get his act together and win the opening tip for the Knick. After all, he does have the height advantage over both Allen and Mobley. After winning the tip, I believe the Knicks will try their luck down low with Julius Randle.
Getting Randle going early here will be key to winning this game, as he has just recovered from a nasty ankle injury and is slowly regaining his confidence. During the regular season, he accounted for 33% of his team’s first field goal makes (25) and for 36% of attempts. His main matchup will be against Evan Mobley, who is playing in his first-ever road game in the postseason, so he could feel the pressure early. An experienced player like Randle will know how to take advantage of that, and he has good odds to sink the first basket at +600.
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