There are nine games on the NBA slate tonight, including numerous matchups where teams are favored by double-digit points.
The Denver Nuggets are 14.5-point favorites over the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to defeat the Sacramento Kings by a whopping 18.5 points.
With those two games being lopsided, they both provide good spots to target players on the favored teams for NBA first basket bets, which I’ve done below.
Continue reading below to see my four best NBA first basket props, including Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and more.
NBA First Basket Bets for Wednesday, November 19
All basketball odds used for tonight’s NBA first basket prop bets are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 19, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nuggets vs. Pelicans First Basket: Nikola Jokic (+414)
The Pelicans are allowing opponents to shoot 63.1% from 2-point range, the highest percentage in the NBA. While that mark is down to 59.4% over New Orleans’ last three games, it has to take on Jokic tonight.
The Denver Nuggets center is averaging 12.2 2-point shots per game and is connecting on 74.7% of such shots. As far as NBA player prop bets in this department go, that lines up far too well.
It’s highly probable to see the Nuggets win the opening tip and get the ball to Jokic in the paint for the first score of the game, making this my NBA pick of the day.
Kings vs. Thunder First Basket: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+300)
The Thunder are favored by 18.5 points at home against the Kings and for good reason—they have a terrible 2-point shooting defense, too.
No, it’s not at the level of the Pacers over the last three games (66.4%), but it’s close. That said, over the course of this season, Sacramento’s opponents are shooting 61.3% from 2-point range against them, which ranks 29th in the NBA.
We all know SGA is a superstar, but more so than that, he’s averaging 31.9 points per game, and no other player on the Thunder is even at 20 points. He’s also averaging 14.3 2-point shots per game.
Make this wager with our best sportsbook promos for 2025.
Hornets vs. Pacers First Basket: Ryan Kalkbrenner (+900)
The Pacers have been a complete trainwreck this season and are now 1-13.
Part of the reason for that record is Indiana’s 2-point defense. The Pacers are allowing opponents to shoot 60.1% on twos this season, which ranks 28th in the league, but it’s been even worse over the last three games.
Over that span, opponents are shooting an eye-popping 72.5% from 2-point range, the highest percentage in the league.
While Kalkbrenner is attempting just 5.2 2-point shots per game, he’s shooting 82.4%, the highest percentage on the Hornets.
Hornets vs. Pacers First Basket: LaMelo Ball (+587)
With how bad the Pacers’ 2-point shooting defense has been, this is certainly a spot to double up on.
This season, Ball is attempting 9.4 2-point shots per game and is shooting 49.3%. He’s also the second-best scorer on the Hornets behind Miles Bridges.
Considering he’s a point guard, I expect Ball to have the ball in his hands on the first possession.
And given his 2-point shooting prowess and willingness to shoot beyond the arc (averaging 9.1 attempts per game), he’s another excellent candidate for the first basket in this game.
