Filip Tomic
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So far this week we’ve landed +950 and +470 winning bets on our first basket scorer predictions and with 13 games on the schedule for today we’re going to attempt to close out the week with another winner or two!
I’d also encourage you to visit our NBA predictions for picks on the side and total for all 13 games being played on Sunday, but let’s jump into my bets now!
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Blazers vs Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert (+500)
I bet you didn’t know the Portland Trail Blazers have won their last 10 opening tips. That’s right, the team that has shut down most of its starters and is tanking the rest of the season has somehow found the first tip winning formula! However, all streaks have to come to an end at some point and I think that happens today as they jump it up against Rudy Gobert, one of the elite centers in the NBA. Portland’s center Drew Eubanks has won only 48% of his tips this season, while Gobert is at 60%, which isn’t the best, but is certainly a formidable number. Portland has struggled heavily defending the rim, so driving the ball to the basket will likely be the way Minnesota scores first. Backing Gobert seems to be the logical choice as 23% of Minnesota’s first baskets have come from the center position. To top it off, Portland allows 28% of first-team field goals from the C position, which gives us even more confidence in backing the Frenchman. It’s also worth pointing out that it has taken Minnesota just 1.7 shots to make their first basket over the last 10 games, which is one of the best figures in the NBA.
Sunday’s NBA mega parlay has +1116 odds!
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Suns vs Thunder: Devin Booker (+490)
This game has the player with the shortest odds to make the first basket in all 13 NBA games this Sunday and that’s Deandre Ayton at just +300. That seems a bit too short for my taste, instead I think going with the hot hand of Devin Booker is a good play. The Suns are likely to get the opening tip as Ayton has outjumped Jaylen Williams in the first 2 meetings between these teams, while in the third game Bismack Biyombo won Phoenix the opening tip. Ayton has won 70% of his tips this season, which is among the highest in the NBA. At 33%, most of the first baskets this season for the Suns have come from the center position, but the 2nd-highest percentage has been shooting guards at 27%. There is some unfinished business between Booker and the Thunder as they spoiled his 40-point game the last time they met, so I’m thinking he will be motivated to start off well and have a big game. At +490 he seems like a value bet to open the scoring.
Read our Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder full game preview.
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