Betting on NBA First Basket Scorer odds is a great way add a thrilling spark to the start of a basketball game.
Betting on the first bucket brings an excitement to your props right from tip. Below, I'll break down a few of my picks for NBA First Basket Scorer odds for tonight's games, with lines from some top sportsbooks:
Jump To Picks:
Boston Celtics vs Phoenix Suns
The Game: Celtics vs Suns, 7:30 p.m. ET
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jusuf Nurkic | +450 |
| Jaylen Brown | +475 |
| Kevin Durant | +500 |
| Devin Booker | +550 |
| Bradley Beal | +700 |
| Jayson Tatum | +700 |
| Jrue Holiday | +1000 |
| Grayson Allen | +1000 |
Pick: Jayson Tatum (+700)
I unsuccessfully picked Tatum to score first on Tuesday, but I'm back on the Tatum train tonight! While Jaylen Brown is always the heavy favorite to score first in Celtics games, Tatum has made just two fewer first baskets than Brown on the season and has way better value in these odds. Getting Jayson as the sixth man on this odds board is pretty wild, considering how big a part of the Celtics offense he is.
As well, I love betting on Tatum here because the Celtics are great at getting the first possession. Boston wins the tip 69.2% of the time on the season.
Dallas Mavericks vs OKC Thunder
The Game: Mavericks vs Thunder, 10:00 p.m.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Josh Giddey | +500 |
| Chet Holmgren | +550 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +600 |
| Kyrie Irving | +600 |
| Jalen Williams | +650 |
| Luka Doncic | +650 |
| Daniel Gafford | +700 |
Pick: Kyrie Irving (+600)
Kyrie has made the first basket in nine of the 44 games he's started and that 20.5% rate is the second-highest among all players in tonight's lineup.
The only problem here is the Mavericks have a big disadvantage at the tip, as Dallas only wins the tip-off 43.9% of the time compared to OKC's 61.5%. But, if Dallas can lock down on defense during the first possession, Kyrie has the best shot of any Mav (even Luka) at getting the game's first bucket.
What Are First Field Goal Bets?
First Field Goal props or First Basket Scorer bets are pretty simple: pick the player who will score the first field goal of the contest. The only thing you have to remember is that free throws do not count as field goals, so if your pick gets fouled and scores from the line, the bet hasn't yet cashed.
Here's an example of how a First Basket Scorer market may look for a hypothetical Lakers vs Bucks game:
- Anthony Davis +450
- LeBron James +500
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +550
- Damian Lillard +600
Davis is the favorite at +450 and his odds mean a $100 bet would pay out $450 in profit. However, if you want to back one of the better value picks like Lillard, you could get $600 back on a $100 bet with his +600 odds. Betting this market is all about comparing first basket likelihood and line value.
