Ricky Dimon
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The NCAA Tournament is in full swing, but we are in between the Elite Eight and Final Four so the NBA can take center stage during the week. With the regular season coming down the home stretch on the professional hardwood, 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.
Kings vs Heat – Jimmy Butler +750
The Heat can be expected to have the first possession in their home date with the Kings on Monday. Bam Adebayo will be jumping for Miami and he has won 68.9 percent of his tipoffs during this 2021-22 campaign (42 of 61). Damian Jones is a novice in the circle for Sacramento and early returns are not encouraging. He is just 4 for 15 (26.7 percent).
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. Butler is the best player on the team we think will have first possession, so at +750 (tied for the fourth favorite) he has great value. Butler has scored at least 20 points in 6 of the last 8 games. He is coming off a disastrous 7-point effort in a humiliating loss to Brooklyn this past Saturday, so you know the veteran guard is going to come out with a vengeance in this one. Count on him getting involved right away.
Check out our Kings vs Heat preview
Warriors vs Grizzlies – Dillon Brooks +500
This Warriors-Grizzlies matchup is another case of the tipoff being a key component. Steven Adams will be lining up for Memphis and he is quite simply the best in the business when it comes to jump balls. He has won 67 of 87 this season (77.1 percent). No one else in the league has won more than 52 tips. Adams will be opposed by Golden State’s Kevon Looney, who is pretty much hopeless in the circle (32 won, 55 lost for an anemic 36.8 percent).
If the Grizzlies gain possession, don’t be surprised if Brooks is the beneficiary. The former Oregon standout has exceeded his points per game average of 17.9 in each of the last 3 contests (20, 21, and 19). When Brooks last faced the Warriors on December 23, guess who scored the first basket. Yep, he did! Let’s go right back to the well this time around.
Check out our Warriors vs Grizzlies preview
If you want to go really big, a Butler-Brooks parlay pays out at +7400!
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