Ricky Dimon
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The NCAA Tournament is taking a short break, but we still have the NBA. With the regular season coming down the home stretch, games are only increasing in importance. It’s a great time for sports bettors, and we will whet those appetites with first basket best bets on Monday.
Let’s take a look at 2 of the best plays for today’s 9-game schedule.
Pelicans vs Hornets: CJ McCollum +550
I am going right back to the well with another Hornets game after cashing Terry Rozier as the first-basket scorer at +850 on Saturday. This time around, however, Charlotte probably isn’t going to have first possession. Mason Plumlee does not have an easy matchup like he did against the Mavericks’ Dwight Powell, whom he got the best of in the circle before Rozier drained a 27-foot 3-pointer. Now it’s Jonas Valanciunas of New Orleans across from Plumlee, and Valanciunas is winning more than half of his jump balls this season (44 of 81, 54.3%). Plumlee has won 30 jumps while losing 40 (42.9%).
Needless to say, the tipoff is the most important factor that should be looked at when deciding on first-basket bets. Obviously players on whichever team gains possession are going to have by far the best opportunities. Assuming the Pelicans do so, at +550 (third favorite) McCollum has good value. He has exceeded his season scoring average (22.2 ppg) in 5 of the last 7 games and he has delivered at least 20 in 7 straight – and also in 13 of the last 14. The veteran shooting guard out of Lehigh is showing plenty of confidence with his new team, and a confident player is always a candidate to get hot early.
Check out all of our NBA previews for Monday
Celtics vs Thunder – Jayson Tatum +650
This Celtics-Thunder matchup is another case of the tipoff being a key component. Robert Williams III will be lining up for Boston and he is one of the best in the business in the tipoff department at 67.7% (46 won, 22 lost). Oklahoma City does not have anyone reliable to send out there for the jump ball, but in recent weeks it has been mostly Isaiah Roby getting the job. It’ a job he most definitely does not do well. Roby comes in at an anemic 22.7% (5 won, 17 lost).
If the Celtics gain possession, don’t be surprised if Tatum is the beneficiary. When the best player on the floor is the third favorite at +650, you take a serious look at capitalizing on such an offer. In 9 games this month, Tatum has scored at least 30 points on 7 occasions. That includes a 54-point outburst against Brooklyn on March 6. In the last 2 contests, the former Duke standout attempted a shot in the first minute and then 2 days later scored a bucket right around the 2-minute mark. Don’t be surprised if he involves himself right away on Monday night.
Check out our full game preview for Celtic vs Thunder
If you want to go really big, a McCollum-Tatum parlay pays out at +4775!
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