NBA First Basket Predictions – Top First Basket Scorer Prop Bets

Mar 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) goes up to shoot a basket against Toronto Raptors forward Ochai Agbaji (30) during the second half at Scotiabank Arena.
Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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: Saturday, Mar. 29

Every day during the NBA regular season and playoffs, we run through our favorite first basket bets and predictions of the night.

Tyler Herro First Basket Scorer (+550)

It has not been a good season for the Heat. They’re currently sitting at just 32-41, which is well below what they were hoping for before the start of the year. That said, not all hope is lost. They’ve managed to win three straight games, and they’re still in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. That means they’ll have a shot to make the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament.

The Heat are in a good spot to pick up another win on Saturday. They’re taking on the 76ers, who have been even more disappointing than Miami. They’ve been ravished by injuries, and they currently have the sixth-worst record in the NBA. They’ve won just one of their past 10 games, and they’re currently riding a six-game losing streak.

The 76ers have also been terrible on tip-offs since losing Joel Embiid to injury. They’re starting an undersized Guerschon Yabusele at center, and they’ve won just one of their past 10 tips. Miami is solid on tip-offs – they’ve won better than 61% for the year – so they have a sizable edge in that department on Saturday.

Herro has taken over as the team’s top offensive threat following Jimmy Butler trade. He’s averaging a career-best 23.6 points per game this season, and he’s done plenty of early scoring of late. Herro has scored the team’s first basket in four of their past 10 outings, and three have been the first basket of the game.

Ultimately, Herro is priced well below Bam Adebayo in this market, despite Herro being the more productive first scorer of late. +550 also stands out as a solid price tag on BetMGM compared to his other markets across the industry.

Where to play: Tyler Herro First Basket Scorer (+550) | BetMGM

Devin Vassell First Basket Scorer (+950)

The Spurs are going to have their hands full with the Celtics on Saturday. It doesn’t figure to be a very competitive matchup, but the Spurs can compete on the opening tip. Even after losing Victor Wembanyama for the season, San Antonio has remained a strong squad on tip-offs. They’ve won nine of their past 10, and they’ve managed to score first in six of those outings.

Vassell has seen a big bump in scoring responsibilities sans Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. He’s averaged 0.70 of the team’s first 3.0 shot attempts over their past 10 outings, and he’s scored the team’s first basket in three of those contests. He’s a very live longshot in this matchup.

Where to play: Devin Vassell First Basket Scorer (+950) | FanDuel

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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

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Best Online Sportsbook Bonuses

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