Ricky Dimon
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The NCAA Tournament is underway, but don’t forget about the NBA. With the regular season coming down the home stretch, games are increasing in importance. It’s a great time for sports bettors, and we will whet those appetites with a first basket best bet on Saturday.
Let’s take a look at the best play for the only game on today’s schedule.
Mavericks vs Hornets: Terry Rozier +850
The Hornets can be expected to have the first possession in their home date with the Mavericks. Charlotte center Mason Plumlee may not be prolific in the tipoff circle, but Dallas big man Dwight Powell is one of the worst jumpers. Plumlee has won won 29 jumps and lost 40 (42.0 winning percentage), while Powell comes in at an anemic 30.8% (12 won, 27 lost).
Needless to say, the tipoff is the most important factor that should be looked at when deciding on first-basket bets. Players on whichever team gains possession are going to have by far the best opportunities. At +850 (fifth favorite), Rozier has great value. He has scored at least 25 points in 10 of the last 15 games, well above his 19.7 points per game average. The Louisville product scored his team’s first basket on its first possession of Wednesday’s contest against Atlanta and no one should be surprised if he gets hot right away on Saturday.
Check out our Mavericks vs Hornets preview
Lakers vs Wizards: Kyle Kuzma +550
This Lakers-Wizards matchup is another case of the tipoff being a key component. Dwight Howard will be lining up for Los Angeles and he was won 9 of 22 jumps during this 2021-22 campaign (40.9%). Now he has to go up against Washington newcomer Kristaps Porzingis, who is one for the best in the business in this discipline at 66% (31 won, 16 lost).
If the Wizards gain possession, don’t be surprised if Kuzma is the beneficiary. Similar to Rozier’s run, Kuzma has scored more than 20 points in 10 of the last 15 outings. Keep in mind that he is going up against his former team, so he will want to stick it to LA early and often. Although +550 isn’t a big number, it’s still worth taking.
If you want to go really big, a Rozier-Kuzma parlay pays out at +6075!
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