We have a massive slate of NBA games on deck tonight, with 12 contests set to start between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET.
Several key players will miss games tonight, including Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), and almost the entire starting five for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That said, there are still plenty of stars who will feature on Wednesday, and many of them, including Golden State’s Stephen Curry and OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are among my top NBA first basket bets tonight.
Let’s check them out.
NBA First Basket Bets for Wednesday, November 12
All basketball odds used for tonight’s NBA first basket prop bets are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 12, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Warriors vs. Spurs First Basket: Stephen Curry (+597)
To lead off my picks in this NBA player prop bets department, I’m looking to Curry.
The Warriors are facing the Spurs on the road, and no team has been worse than San Antonio at defending the 3-point shot over their last three games. Over that span, opponents are shooting 42.7% from distance.
So far this season, through nine games, Curry is averaging 10.6 3-point attempts per game.
It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see him get the ball in his hand right off the bat and chuck one up to set the tone early.
Hawks vs. Kings First Basket: Jalen Johnson (+468)
Lately, the Kings’ defense has been dreadful, especially against 2-point shots. Opponents are shooting 63.1% against Sacramento on these shots over its last three games, the second-highest percentage in the NBA over that span.
Johnson is the pick here for the second of my NBA first basket props because he leads the Hawks in 2-point attempts per game (11.9), and the next closest player, Trae Young (8.8), is out with a knee injury.
Lakers vs. Thunder First Basket: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+452)
Any time the Thunder are playing, it’s hard to pass up Gilgeous-Alexander for this prop bet. He has the ball in his hand all the time, averaging 34.3 minutes per game, as well as six 3-point attempts and a staggering 15.4 2-point attempts per game.
Over their last three games, the Lakers have allowed teams to shoot 57.7% on 2-pointers (sixth-highest) and 42.6% from beyond the arc (second-highest).
SGA certainly shoots far more 2-point shots than 3-pointers, but both percentages are high enough that whatever he decides to do after the opening tip has a great chance of landing.
Grizzlies vs. Celtics First Basket: Jaylen Brown (+444)
While the Grizzlies have a strong 3-point defense, the same cannot be said for shots inside the 3-point arc. Over their last three games, opponents have shot 62% on these types of shots, the third-highest percentage in the NBA during that span.
When it comes to 2-point shooters on the Celtics, look no further than Brown; he averages 14.6 attempts per game, nearly eight more than the next closest player, Derrick White.
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