Filip Tomic
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Since last Friday we’ve been able to land +450 and +490 NBA first basket scorer bets. With under a week to go in the NBA regular season we’re aiming to end the campaign on a high note with more winners before it’s all said and done.
I’ve picked out my two favorite bets from Thursday’s 5-game slate, which you can find below. Also be sure to visit our NBA picks for predictions on the side and total for all tonight’s games.
Let’s dive into my bets now!
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Heat vs 76ers: Tobias Harris (+1000)
Tobias Harris actually had to jump it up at center court for the opening tip in the previous meeting between these teams as Joel Embiid was out. That won’t be the case in tonight’s game as the big fella is healthy and eager to play following his 52-point explosion against Boston on Tuesday. Embiid won the opening tip against Bam Adebayo in the first meeting of the season, and there’s a chance Bam doesn’t play tonight which almost guarantees the 76ers winning the opening tip. Harris is tied for 3rd place on the team when it comes to first field-goal attempts this season, accounting for 22% of shots. He has made 18% of the team’s first field goals this season, ranking 2nd behind Embiid. With Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton both doubtful to play, the Sixers might be forced to turn to Harris to open the scoring for them. After a scoreless 9-minute first quarter against Boston, I think Doc Rivers will been keen to get his small forward going and there’s no better way doing that than by scoring the first bucket for your team.
Check out our full game preview for Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers
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Cavaliers vs Magic: Paolo Banchero (+600)
With both teams pretty much settled in their season-ending positions, there’s not much left to play for in this matchup. Donovan Mitchell and other prominent Cavs players are expected to be rested for this game and that’s good news for Orlando’s rookie sensation Paolo Banchero, who is definitely playing. He ha made the first basket twice already against the Cavs this season, both times from the free-throw line. A total of 3 Magic players have made more than 10 first field goals for their team this season, Banchero ranks 2nd with 13 of them, just 1 behind Wendell Carter Jr. who is the odds-on favorite on most nights to open the scoring for Orlando. Those numbers are really impressive for the rookie considering he accounts for only 19% of the first field-goal attempts for his team this season. As the season winds down the more experienced players will usually start games more slowly, so let’s hope the enthusiastic rookie asserts himself early with a bucket.
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