NBA First Basket Predictions for Saturday Include Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic [12/28/2024]

This Saturday, December 28th, another exciting day of NBA action is on the cards, headlined by the Heat's matchup against the Hawks at 3:00PM ET.

After assessing Saturday's NBA simulation results early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data experts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

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Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has projected to have the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Saturday.

Let's dive into today's NBA first basket news and updates.

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent injury reports, Saturday's NBA slate is expected to showcase big names such as Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, each with a high chance of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First NBA Basket Tonight? [Cheat Sheet for December 28, 2024]

Thanks to simulating Saturday's NBA games 10,000 times each, Dimers has determined the list of players most likely to score the first basket in their respective games.

Player (Team)	First Basket Probability
Kevin Durant (Suns)	16.0%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	16.0%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	15.5%
LeBron James (Lakers)	15.1%
Cade Cunningham (Pistons)	15.0%
Tyler Herro (Heat)	14.4%
Miles Bridges (Hornets)	14.4%
Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)	14.3%
Mark Williams (Hornets)	14.2%
Joel Embiid (76ers)	13.8%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's games is Kevin Durant, with a probability of 16.0%.

Following Durant closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Nikola Jokic at 16.0% and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 15.5%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Saturday, 12/28/2024]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA matchups 10,000 times each, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Saturday.

For full access to our comprehensive analysis and top picks, subscribe to Dimers Pro.

Daniel Gafford To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 4.5%
• Probability: 13.6%
• Matchup: Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers (10:00PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Mavericks and Trail Blazers. The bet is on Daniel Gafford (DAL) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 4.5% according to our analysis.

Although Gafford doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Saturday's NBA slate, he does present the best betting opportunity for those searching for an edge on the market.

Closer Look at Today's First Basket Props

NBA first basket props have become one of the more popular betting options for basketball bettors. By using Saturday's data-driven NBA predictions, you can gain an advantage over everyone else.

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NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

• Read the latest news alerts from the official NBA feed
• Check updated NBA odds
• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Schedule for Today [12/28/2024]

• Heat vs. Hawks (3:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Knicks vs. Wizards (7:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Bucks vs. Bulls (8:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Suns vs. Warriors (8:30PM ET, Saturday)
• Pistons vs. Nuggets (9:00PM ET, Saturday)
• 76ers vs. Jazz (9:30PM ET, Saturday)
• Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers (10:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Kings vs. Lakers (10:30PM ET, Saturday)

For more betting guides, check out Saturday's NBA best bets and our NBA player prop picks for Saturday.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: December 28, 2024

This NBA first basket article has been partially generated using automated processes and AI technology. Our goal is to provide timely and accurate updates on NBA first basket picks for December 28, 2024. Automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting, while human editing and quality control ensure the content meets our editorial guidelines.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket predictions for Saturday, December 28, have been made thanks to rigorous data-driven game simulations, providing reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

If you use today's NBA first basket picks for your personal gambling, it's vital that you practice responsible gambling and manage your bankroll effectively. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Understanding Betting Edge

The "edge" at Dimers is when we think the probability of an event occurring is more likely than the best odds available. Essentially, it means that Dimers believes a bet has a better chance of winning than the sportsbooks do. That's why the higher the edge, the better.

Although it does not guarantee a win, taking picks with a higher betting edge can increase your chances of being profitable in the long run. This is an essential aspect of a successful sports betting strategy.

More on NBA

This article is part of our NBA player props and NBA best bets series.

For more NBA betting content, we have NBA trends for every game, as well as daily NBA betting news and the latest NBA title odds and predictions.