There are many ways to bet on an NBA game these days, but one of my favorites is First Basket Scorer odds.
It brings the immediate excitement of a prop with the edge-of-your-seat thrill of a contest's final few shots. 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:
Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons
The Game: Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Antony Davis | +380 |
| Jalen Duren | +600 |
| LeBron James | +650 |
| Jaden Ivey | +650 |
| Cade Cunningham | +650 |
| D'Angelo Russell | +700 |
| Austin Reaves | +800 |
| Rui Hachimura | +800 |
Pick: Rui Hachimura +800
Sportsbooks haven't adjusted yet, but Rui Hachimura looks like a starter for the Lakers now. The LA forward has started four of his last five games scoring nearly 11 points per contest in that stretch. Last game out against the Pelicans, Hachimura scored 21 points, including the first Lakers three-pointer of the contest.
AD dime to Rui Hachimura for the slam 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AWvhukUf65
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 10, 2024
I'm not sure how Rui would influence this directly, but he's also the player with the best Team First Basket stats in the league. In the 11 games he's started this season, the Lakers have scored six times, meaning his squad scores first 55% of the time he starts — a league-high.
Getting a player on a hot streak, in the starting lineup, with some weird trends on his side at +800 is too good of value for me to pass up.
Sacramento Kings vs Phoenix Suns
The Game: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jusuf Nurkic | +450 |
| Kevin Durant | +500 |
| Devin Booker | +500 |
| Bradley Beal | +550 |
| Domantas Sabonis | +550 |
| Grayson Allen | +950 |
| De'Aron Fox | +1000 |
Pick: Kevin Durant (+500)
Kevin Durant is averaging 27.2 points per game in February and has scored the Suns' first basket in each of the last two games. We all know what kind of scorer Durant is so that alone should be enough to back him in these first bucket odds.
But, I've got one more piece of info that's really nailing this pick down for me. The Suns are almost certain to win the opening tip-off in this contest, as Phoenix leads the NBA with a 73% win rate on the tip. The Kings are second-worst in the Association, down at 31% win rate. That first possession will be key for the Suns, giving Durant the opportunity for an early 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.
