Ricky Dimon
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If you are a fan of the YRFI/NRFI prop and can’t wait for Major League Baseball season to begin, then you also have to like the first-basket scorer offering in the NBA. Needless to say, you don’t have to wait long to find out the result when it comes to those particular betting markets. The satisfaction (or in some cases disappointment) is immediate.
Before the MLB season starts on Thursday, let’s try to nail some first-basket winners on Wednesday. That is exactly what I did on Monday night, cashing Tobias Harris of the 76ers at +950. There are 10 games on today’s schedule, so we have a ton of options with which to work.
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Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers first basket best bet: Jrue Holiday (+800)
The Bucks can be expected to have the first possession in their road date with the Pacers. Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez is one of the best there is in the jump-balls department. Lopez has won the most jumps in the NBA this season (60) and succeeds at a rate of 66.7%. He will likely be going up against Jalen Smith of Indiana, who is just 3 for 9 in the circle in 2022-23. Smith is Myles Turner’s backup, and Turner is questionable with a back injury. Either way, Lopez should have no trouble. Turner registers at a dreadful 37.8% (28 won, 46 lost).
The tipoff is the most important factor that should be looked at when deciding on first-basket bets. It goes without saying that players on whichever team gains possession are going to have by far the best opportunities. Assuming the Bucks have the ball first, Holiday could be the one to capitalize. He is coming off a poor 9-point effort on 3-for-11 shooting in Saturday’s loss at Denver, so I expect him to try to build some confidence right away in this one. It’s also worth noting that he attempted his team’s first shot in that game; I wouldn’t be surprised if he does the same again tonight.
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Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs first basket best bet: Talen Horton-Tucker (+700)
This Jazz-Spurs game is another case of the tipoff being a key component. Walker Kessler is lining up for Utah and he has won 58% of his jumps this season (29 out of 50). Opposing Kessler in the circle is San Antonio’s Zach Collins, who comes in at an anemic 38.9% (14 won, 22 lost).
If Utah corrals the ball right away, Horton-Tucker is one of the prime candidates to benefit. THT has attempted double-digit field goals in 9 of the last 11 games and has hoisted up at least 9 shots in 11 straight. He has also scored in double figures in 9 of the last 11, including performances of 21, 23 and 37 points. Horton-Tucker forked up 7 3-pointers in Monday’s contest against Phoenix (making 2) and now faces a Spurs squad that is dead last in the association in 3-point defense.
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