Andrew Ortenberg
Show Bio
The NBA is approaching the home stretch, and we have another full slate on Sunday. We have a big card with 8 games on the docket, including an intriguing double-header on ESPN. What better way to celebrate the start of the weekend than with some first basket bets? Let’s dive into them, using odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Pelicans vs Nuggets: Will Barton +650
You might not think of Nikola Jokic as the most dynamic athlete, but he’s pretty good at winning jump balls. In fact he’s winning them at a higher percentage than Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas is this season. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr still sidelined, the Nuggets don’t have too much on offense outside of Jokic besides Barton right now. We can pretty much throw out Denver’s most recent game against Houston since Jokic didn’t play. Right before that against OKC, Barton launched three attempts from beyond the arc in the first six minutes.
In the Nuggets’ game right before that, Barton took and made the game’s first basket on the opening possession. When these two teams last played about a month ago, Barton made Denver’s first field goal. In their one previous game against the Pels this season, Barton took 18 shots and made the first basket of the game. He also had the Nuggets’ second bucket in that one.
Knicks vs Clippers: Mitchell Robinson +1100
For our second play I’m going with more of a longshot. Getting better than 10/1 with Robinson is too good to pass up, and to me it’s a bit ridiculous that there are eight guys in this game ahead of him with lower odds. Big men often get some of their points early off designed and scripted plays to get them an easy dunk right away, and Robinson is no exception. In New York’s most recent game against Phoenix, Robinson scored the second basket of the game.
The Knicks’ two previous contests were both against the 76ers, and Robinson scored two of the team’s first three field goals in each of those. New York also has a big tipoff advantage here. Robinson is winning a respectable 54 percent of his jump balls this season. Clippers center Ivica Zubac is only winning 35.7 percent, which is one of the worst marks in the league.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for New York Knicks vs Los Angeles Clippers
If you want to go really big, a Barton-Robinson parlay pays out at +8900!
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