First Basket Betting: Spend Risk-Free Bet On Tatum For Game 3

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after scoring during the first quarter of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on January 29, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Image Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Did you catch that in the title? Three beautiful words that are music to sports bettors’ ears: Risk. Free. Bet!

You read that correctly, BetMGM is offering “first basket betting insurance” up to $25 for NBA Finals Game 3.

Let’s take a look at how to claim this offer and who to bet as a first basket scorer on Wednesday.

First Basket Betting: Risk-Free Offer At BetMGM

The offer is straightforward:

  • Place a first basket betting pick for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
  • If you win, you keep the winnings.
  • If you lose, you get up to $25 back in risk-free bets.

How To Lock In This Offer For Game 3

Here’s how to make sure you opt-in for this offer:

  1. Log into your BetMGM account.
  2. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up (and receive a separate bonus) through our affiliate banner below.
  3. Go to the ‘promotions’ tab on the BetMGM website or app.
  4. Find the ‘first basket betting’ promotion. Click on it.
  5. Read the stipulations (can be found here) and press the ‘opt-in’ button.
  6. Make your pick! You will be refunded up to $25 if your bet loses.

Don’t have a BetMGM account? You can sign-up through our affiliate link below to receive a separate bonus offer up to $1,000.

NOTE: Your first scorer pick must be placed with cash, not free bets or promotion funds. You can only redeem this offer once in the entire NBA Finals series.

  1. 15+ States
  2. Extensive Betting Markets
  3. Top-Rated App

First Basket Betting Odds: NBA Finals Game 3

Jaylen Brown+400
Stephen Curry+450
Jayson Tatum+550
Klay Thompson+600
Andrew Wiggins+750
Robert Williams+750
Al Horford+1100
Kevon Looney+1200
Marcus Smart+1200
Draymond Green+1600

Odds via BetMGM as of 12:30 am ET on June 8.

First Basket Scorer Stats

Consider these stats when betting on first basket scorers for Game 3:

  • Game 1 sequence: Celtics win tip. Jayson Tatum missed shot. Andrew Wiggins missed shot. Jayson Tatum missed shot. Stephen Curry missed shot. Stephen Curry makes first basket.
  • Game 2 sequence: Celtics win tip. Turnover on first possession. Andrew Wiggins makes first basket.
  • According to @NBAFirstBasket, Robert Williams has won the tip 59% of the time this season. Williams has won the tip in both NBA Finals games.
  • Kevon Looney of Golden State has won the tip just 33% of the time this season (@NBAFirstBasket).
  • Jaylen Brown has been the first basket scorer in 25% of Boston games (@NBAFirstBasket).
  • Stephen Curry has scored the first basket in just 4% of Golden State games (@NBAFirstBasket).

First Basket Betting Pick

The Celtics are at home looking for a bounce-back victory. There will be plenty of energy in the building. If the aforementioned stats hold up, Williams should win the tip for Boston.

So who will take the first shot for the Celtics? It’s a coin flip between Brown and Tatum. However, Tatum has the longer odds (+550), and he had two chances to score the first basket in Game 1. I’m thinking he’ll get the job done in Game 3 at home.

After all, it’s a risk-free bet, and we are getting the best player from the home team at decent odds. Let’s roll with it!

The pick: Jayson Tatum +550