NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Jayson Tatum, Miles Bridges [3/14/2025]

This Friday, March 14th, it's time for a big day of NBA action, headlined by the Pacers' matchup against the 76ers at 7:00PM ET.

After evaluating Friday's NBA simulations this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data experts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

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

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

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent latest NBA Injury Report, Friday's NBA games are expected to feature players such as Jayson Tatum, Miles Bridges and Dalton Knecht, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for March 14, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Friday'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
Jayson Tatum (Celtics)	16.9%
Miles Bridges (Hornets)	16.3%
Dalton Knecht (Lakers)	14.9%
Ivica Zubac (Clippers)	14.4%
Collin Sexton (Jazz)	14.3%
Paolo Banchero (Magic)	14.1%
Franz Wagner (Magic)	13.6%
Stephon Castle (Spurs)	13.6%
Tyler Herro (Heat)	13.3%
Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)	13.2%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is Jayson Tatum, with a probability of 16.9%.

Following Tatum closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Miles Bridges at 16.3% and Dalton Knecht at 14.9%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 3/14/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our trusted predictive analytics model has found the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Friday.

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

Dalton Knecht To Score First Basket

• Odds: +800
• Edge: 3.8%
• Probability: 14.9%
• Matchup: Lakers vs. Nuggets (9:30PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Lakers and Nuggets. The bet is on Dalton Knecht (LAL) at odds of +800 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.8% according to our analysis.

Dimers' model not only features Knecht for him 3.8% betting edge but also ranks him among the top three most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the above list.

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 Friday'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
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• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Schedule for Today [3/14/2025]

• Pacers vs. 76ers (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Celtics vs. Heat (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Clippers vs. Hawks (7:30PM ET, Friday)
• Magic vs. Timberwolves (8:00PM ET, Friday)
• Mavericks vs. Rockets (8:00PM ET, Friday)
• Lakers vs. Nuggets (9:30PM ET, Friday)
• Raptors vs. Jazz (9:30PM ET, Friday)
• Kings vs. Suns (10:00PM ET, Friday)

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: March 14, 2025

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 March 14, 2025. Automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting, while human editing and quality control ensure the content meets our editorial standards.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket predictions for Friday, March 14, have been made after rigorous data-driven game simulations, providing reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

If you plan to use today's NBA first basket predictions for your personal gambling, it's vital that you gamble responsibly 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.