Looking for the best NBA first basket predictions and best bets today? You’re in luck! In this article, the Props crew will outline their top NBA first basket picks for every day of the basketball season.
We mean it, because we deliver our best bets for every day there’s a game on the calendar. No load management here!
Below are our best NBA first basket predictions today. Be sure to check our NBA player props for more top selections for the current NBA slate.
Best NBA First Basket & Points Props Today: Friday, Feb. 21
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Every day during the NBA regular season and playoffs, we run through our favorite first basket bets and predictions of the night.
Malik Monk First Basket Scorer (+700)
Friday’s matchup between the Kings and Warriors stands out as one of the most interesting on the slate. Both teams are currently tied at 28-27, putting them in a tie for the final two spots in the Western Conference play-in tournament. The Warriors are desperately trying to make one last run with Steph Curry, trading for Jimmy Butler before the deadline, while the Kings are stuck in limbo. They’re not good enough to contend – especially since trading away De’Aaron Fox – but they have too much talent to completely bottom out.
From a first-basket standpoint, the Kings stand out as the team to target. Neither team has been particularly good on tip-offs this season, but the Kings have been far better of late. They’ve won the tip in six of their past 10 outings, while the Warriors have won merely four. They’re currently starting Draymond Green at center, so Domantas Sabonis should have a pretty sizable edge in that matchup.
With Fox now in San Antonio, Monk has taken over as the team’s primary point guard. That’s a bit of a role change for him, but he’s handled the increased responsibilities well. That said, it hasn’t changed the fact that he’s a certified bucket-getter. He’s scored the Kings’ first basket in four of their past 10 outings, and he’s been their clear leader in early shot volume over that time frame. He’s averaged 0.90 of the team’s first 3.0 shot attempts during that stretch, which is the top mark on the squad.
Ultimately, +700 feels like a very fair price tag. It put him behind Sabonis (+625) and just slightly ahead of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine (+750), and I think Monk deserves to be the clear favorite in that quartet.
Where to play: Malik Monk First Basket Scorer (+700) | FanDuel
Darius Garland First Basket Scorer (+800)
The Cavs have been dominant on tip-offs all season. Jarrett Allen is one of the best in the business in that department, and the Cavs have secured the first possession in 81.8% of their contests. That’s the top mark among Friday’s squads by a decent margin. They’ve ultimately won nine of their past 10 tips, and they’ve scored first in eight of those outings.
That makes Garland an interesting buy-low option. He hasn’t done a ton of early scoring of late, but his full-season numbers are still impressive. He’s taken the first shot in 17.6% of his starts, which puts him just behind Donovan Mitchell (22%) and Evan Mobley (19.1%).
Garland is also priced at a nice discount on FanDuel at +800. He’s as low as +625 elsewhere, so it’s a number worth considering.
Where to play: Darius Garland First Basket Scorer (+800) | FanDuel
Where To Place NBA First Basket Bets
The following sportsbooks have more than enough options to satisfy your NBA First Basket needs. As outlined before, always shop around for the best price for NBA First Basket Bets.
On top of that, our team spent the time to find the best available bonus offers at each listed sportsbook. If you are new to any of these betting apps, be sure to use our exclusive links and promo codes to claim your free bets:
Top Sportsbooks For NBA First Basket Props
- FanDuel Sportsbook (click here for our full review)
- Caesars Sportsbook (click here for our full review)
- BetMGM (click here for our full review)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (click here for our full review)
Best Fantasy Props Sites For NBA
- Underdog
- PrizePicks
- Betr Picks
- Vivid Picks
- Sleeper Fantasy
- Boom Fantasy
- ParlayPlay
- Chalkboard Fantasy
Be sure to check out the Props.com overview of the Best Online Sports Betting Bonuses in the U.S.
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