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.
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Best NBA First Basket & Points Props Today: Wednesday, Jan. 22
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Jarrett Allen First Basket Scorer (+525)
The Cavaliers continue to steamroll through the 2024-25 season. They’re currently sitting at 36-6, giving them a comfortable 6.5-game lead over the Celtics for the best record in the conference. They’re also No. 2 in Net Rating (+10.1), trailing only a historically good Thunder squad (+12.8). The Cavs are still going to have their detractors until they prove they can get the job done in the playoffs, but this team looks like a real threat to take home a championship.
The Cavs have also been a wagon from a first-basket perspective. They’ve been outstanding on tip-offs all season, winning 81.0%, and they’ve won each of their past 10 tips. They’ve also scored first in eight of their past 10 outings.
That gives them a sizeable edge over the Rockets on Wednesday. Houston has had an impressive season, but they haven’t been nearly as good as the Cavs on tips. They’ve won just four of their past 10, and they’re sitting at a subpar 40.5% for the year.
Cleveland doesn’t have a set-in-stone first scorer, but Allen has gotten the job done more than most of their starters. He has six first-baskets for the year – tied with Darius Garland for the team lead – and four of them have come in the past 10 games. He’s capable of scoring on a set play, a lob, or an offensive rebound, which gives him multiple paths to the finish line in this matchup.
Donovan Mitchell is the favorite to score first for Cleveland on Wednesday (+400), and his first-basket metrics are less impressive than Allen’s overall. Ultimately, the gap between these two players is too wide, so Allen stands out as the preferred target.
Where to play: Jarrett Allen First Basket Scorer (+525) | BetMGM
P.J. Washington Jr. First Basket Scorer (+800)
Washington has been undervalued in the first-basket market for most of the year. He’s taken the first shot in 25.7% of his outings, which is an absolutely elite figure. Only Mark Williams (31.3%) and Kristaps Porzingis (26.3%) are higher among Wednesday’s options, and both players have logged significantly fewer games.
Washington has done plenty of first-scoring of late, too. His volume has been excellent, averaging 1.1 of the team’s first 3.0 shot attempts over their past 10 games, and he’s scored the team’s first basket in four of those outings. Three of them have been the first basket of the game.
The Mavericks have also been a strong team on tips recently, winning eight of their past 10, so Washington checks all the boxes you look for in a first-scorer. +800 is an excellent value.
Where to play: P.J. Washington Jr. First Basket Scorer (+800) | BetMGM
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)
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- Underdog
- PrizePicks
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- Sleeper Fantasy
- Boom Fantasy
- ParlayPlay
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Be sure to check out the Props.com overview of the Best Online Sports Betting Bonuses in the U.S.
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