With eight games on deck tonight, there are ample options to choose from for the best NBA first basket bets.
One of the players I’ll be focusing on plays for the 13-1 Oklahoma City Thunder, who are on the road against the 2-11 New Orleans Pelicans in a battle of the best and worst teams in the Western Conference.
Including that player, you’ll find a total of four options for NBA first basket props below.
NBA First Basket Bets for Monday, November 17
All basketball odds used for tonight’s NBA first basket prop bets are current as of Monday, Nov. 17, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Thunder vs. Pelicans First Basket: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+369)
I mentioned a Thunder player would be among this crop of NBA player prop bets, and here he is: SGA.
The Pelicans allow a league-high 63.5% shooting on 2-point shots. SGA averages 15.1 2-point shots per game, which is almost six more than the next closest player.
The Thunder will be without Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, and potentially even Alex Caruso.
SGA will have the ball a ton tonight, making this my NBA pick of the day.
Pacers vs. Pistons First Basket: Cade Cunningham (+581)
Next up, I’ll take a chance on Cunningham.
The Pacers are allowing opponents to shoot 69.4% from 2-point range over their last three games, the highest mark in the league.
Cunningham is attempting 15.5 2-point shots per game and is averaging 7.7 makes per game (50%).
Pacers vs. Pistons First Basket: Jalen Duren (+472)
For this next one, I’m actually sticking to the same game. Of course, only one first basket can happen, but both Duren and Cunningham are great candidates.
Something to consider is that both players are questionable for this game, but it seems likely they’ll both suit up.
As for Duren’s case over Cunningham, he shoots fewer 2-point shots (10.8) per game but makes a much higher percentage (64.7%), averaging seven makes per game.
Hornets vs. Raptors First Basket: Immanuel Quickley (+690)
Finally, my last pick among the NBA first basket props is Quickley.
His Raptors are hosting the Hornets, who are allowing opponents to shoot nearly 50% from beyond the arc over their last three games. That’s the highest rate in the NBA over that span by more than 9%.
Quickley leads the Raptors in 3-point attempts, averaging 6.2 per game.
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