It’s always nice to clear a little over a unit off a quarter-unit play, but even more fun when it’s the first bucket of a game. Jalen Brunson did his part on Tuesday, now it’s on someone else’s shoulders for Thursday’s shorter slate. One of the biggest ways to improve your chances in hitting a first basket play is targeting the best player to win the tip. From there most depends on the team, point guard, and how good the opponent is on defense. Here are our looks at NBA first basket bets tonight.
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NBA First Basket Bets Tonight: Odds & Pick
Spurs-Suns First Basket Odds & Pick Tonight
Jusef Nurkic is a sneaky player to target to win the opening tip, but understandably just lost it to Victor Wembenyana on Tuesday night. Expecting a similar result is no reach, but the real issue is what the Spurs wind up doing with the ball first – Zach Collins turned it over leading to a Suns first basket.
San Antonio isn’t good, no shock there, so there’s a decent chance someone falls over themselves or simply misses a shot. The value comes in finding a player on San Antonio who would have gotten that first shot despite the turnover, who isn’t top chalk, and eventually did take the first shot for San Antonio against Phoenix. Enter Devin Vassell at +700 on FanDuel.
He’s one of the few consistent options for the Spurs, can get to the line, and is 100 points longer on the odds than teammate Wembenyana. Put a .25u on Vassell as the Spurs get the tip and it right on the opening possession.
Best NBA First Basket Bet Prop: Devin Vassell +700 at FanDuel for 0.25 Units
Long shot First Basket Bet Tonight
Joel Embiid has been able to do whatever he wants against Jakob Poeltl except win the tip. Toronto grabbed the opening possession and the first bucket in their game earlier this season but things should work a little different tonight in South Philadelphia. Even if the Raptors do grab the first possession, Embiid and the perimeter defense in front of him have been active and aggressive to get an early stop and ignite a raucous crowd.
The Raptors are going to be tight, it’s their second time in just six games taking on their former head coach. Nick Nurse has the entire city behind him. The obvious choice is Embiid, a longer shot would be Tyrese Maxey. The longest and best valued shot is actually De’Anthony Melton at +1100.
Philadelphia can easily just dump it down to Embiid for a quick bucket or free throw – as evident by the heavy chalk – but Melton has the baseline three available in the opening set, also a transition three off a Raptors miss. Two good spots is good enough at 11-1.
Best NBA First Basket Prop: De’Anthony Melton +1100 at FanDuel for 0.1 Units
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