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Another NBA Friday night is upon us. There is solid slate of games for your enjoyment this week. With a couple really good matchups, here are my favorite First Basket plays for the night.
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Friday’s Best NBA First Basket Player Prop Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Charlotte Hornets @ Washington Wizards
On a night with a few high-profile matchups, this one certainly wouldn’t be near the top of the list. In a game between two incredibly underachieving teams, I wouldn’t recommend tuning into this contest. Luckily, when you’re betting First Baskets, you can flip the game off once the first score passes through the net.
Charlotte remains one of the worst teams in the league at scoring first, and as bad as the Wizards are at winning games, they’re league average at scoring the first points. Therefore, one of the Washington star players is on my radar in this matchup.
Kyle Kuzma has been a bright spot when it comes to First Baskets. On the season, Kuzma has already cashed nine of these props. In addition he’s scored first for the Wizards in 16 games, about a quarter of games he’s started this season. I like his chances to pull out another one in this matchup of lottery teams.
Pick: Kyle Kuzma (+550)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have been devastated by injuries lately, but thankfully, they’re still having success on the court. Both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are currently sidelined for a Cleveland team with high hopes this season. However, Minnesota recently received some bad injury news of their own, with Karl Anthony Towns sidelined with a knee injury. These injuries certainly take a lot of wind out of the sails of this matchup, but there is still First Basket value.
As impressive as they’ve been on defense, Minnesota has struggled against bigs when it comes to First Baskets. With Mobley injured, this puts Jarrett Allen in a prime position to cash a First Basket in this matchup.
Allen has scored first for Cleveland 13 times this season, resulting in nine First Baskets. With two of the biggest stars out of the lineup for Cleveland, and with a great matchup for the big man, I like Allen to get the first score again.
Pick: Jarrett Allen (+480)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Los Angeles Lakers
Friday night’s nationally televised doubleheader ends with the Bucks traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. There will be stars aplenty in this matchup, and I’ll be targeting one star in particular to get the scoring started.
Milwaukee has been really good at scoring First Baskets this season, doing so in just under 60% of the games they’ve played. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the best in the league when it comes to this prop, but due to matchups, I’m targeting Milwaukee’s other star.
Damian Lillard has only cashed this prop eight times this season, but against a Lakers team that gives up most of their opponent’s first scores to guards, it’s a strong play. Lillard hasn’t always made the shots, but he’s taken the first Milwaukee shot in over a quarter of the games he’s started. He should get early chances again here, and I like his odds to get us a First Basket.
Pick: Damian Lillard (+550)
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