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Saturday provides another strong NBA schedule with some of the league’s best in action. Whether it’s the primetime Boston and Phoenix matchup, the defending champs hosting the Jazz or even a forgettable matchup between two lottery teams, there are a lot of good opportunities for First Basket value. Here are a few of my favorite plays.
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Saturday’s Best NBA First Basket Scorer Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets
Yesterday I faded the Hornets against the Wizards. Kyle Kuzma missed his first attempt so the bet didn’t cash, but the reasoning was strong. I’m going back to the well here against the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn isn’t particularly strong in this prop, only about league average, but there’s a matchup with a ton of value.
Charlotte, like many teams, struggles the most against centers when it comes to First Baskets. For Brooklyn, this means a matchup for one of the hidden First Basket gems in the league, Nic Claxton.
Claxton has quietly put together a phenomenal season, racking up the First Basket prop cashes. He’s already put in 14 on the season, on 17 first team scores. If he’s getting an early look, he’s almost certainly going to be putting it in the basket. Given the matchup with Charlotte, I like the Nets to look to Claxton, and I like him to cash another First Basket.
Pick: Nic Claxton (+600)
Boston Celtics at Phoenix Suns
This is the premiere matchup of the night, between two solid championship contenders. When it comes to First Baskets, if Boston is playing, it’s a smart bet to back a Celtic. Now over the last few years, almost everyone in the starting lineup for Boston has had a ton of success in this prop. I’m targeting one of their biggest stars.
Jayson Tatum will have a sour taste in his mouth about how Thursday’s game went down and should be looking for a hot start. This isn’t just a narrative-based pick though. He’s had a ton of success, cashing this prop 10 times already this season. He’s an elite scorer in all situations but crunch time.
This should be the best game of the night and a possible NBA Finals preview. Boston has an advantage when it comes to scoring first and I’ll be looking at Jayson Tatum to erase the bad taste in his mouth from Thursday and score a First Basket.
Pick: Jayson Tatum (+600)
Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets
This pick really doesn’t need much justification. The Jazz are one of the weakest teams in the league when it comes to First Baskets and they’re playing not only against an elite team in Denver but against one of the best players in the league.
Nikola Jokic is the straw that stirs the drink in Denver. Twenty-two first team scores have resulted in 14 First Baskets this season. He’s on his way to a third MVP in four years and the Nuggets are looking every bit the championship team they were last year. Throw in the fact that Utah struggles against opposing centers in First Basket situations and this pick is a slam dunk.
He’s rightfully the shortest odds so it seems hard to argue value, but given how often he cashes this prop over the other nine starters on the floor it’s hard to argue that it’s not. I’ll be taking Jokic again on this prop and looking for a winner to round out my Saturday night card.
Pick: Nikola Jokic (+410)
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