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NBA first basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Our NBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Tuesday, December 16, 2025—are live with the Spurs' De'Aaron Fox projected as the most likely player to score first.
Our NBA first basket picks and predictions for the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs NBA Cup Final today—Tuesday, December 16, 2025—are live with the Spurs' De'Aaron Fox projected as the most likely player to score first.
These projections draw on detailed first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily NBA player projections.
Fox, Jalen Brunson and Devin Vassell lead Tuesday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also feature tonight's best first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.
NBA first basket predictions tonight (December 16, 2025)
| Player | Team | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| De'Aaron Fox | Spurs | 14.2% |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 13.2% |
| Devin Vassell | Spurs | 11.6% |
| Stephon Castle | Spurs | 11.0% |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 10.9% |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 9.3% |
| OG Anunoby | Knicks | 8.9% |
| Harrison Barnes | Spurs | 8.7% |
| Josh Hart | Knicks | 7.7% |
NBA first basket picks today (December 16, 2025)
| Player | Team | Edge | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OG Anunoby | Knicks | 1.8% | +1300 | 8.9% |
Edges represent the difference between model probability and implied odds.
For more insights on prop markets and value plays across the league, explore our full list of NBA prop bets for 12/16.
Conclusion: Betting on today's NBA first basket
For Tuesday, December 16, 2025, De'Aaron Fox, Jalen Brunson, and Devin Vassell lead our first basket projections, while OG Anunoby shapes as the strongest value play at +1300. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ NBA first basket model.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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