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NBA First Basket Predictions for Sunday Include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ivica Zubac [3/9/2025]

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Written by Jason Bevilacqua

Our expert analysis on Sunday's NBA first basket market.

NBA First Basket Predictions Today.
The most likely NBA first basket scorers for Sunday have been revealed.

This Sunday, March 9th, it's time for an action-packed day of NBA action, headlined by the Suns' matchup against the Mavericks at 3:30PM ET.

After assessing Sunday's NBA simulations early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data experts have revealed 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 highest probability of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Sunday.

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, Sunday's NBA games are expected to feature big names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ivica Zubac and Cade Cunningham, 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 9, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Sunday'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
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) 17.8%
Ivica Zubac (Clippers) 14.4%
Cade Cunningham (Pistons) 14.0%
Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers) 13.8%
Kyle Filipowski (Jazz) 13.8%
Ja Morant (Grizzlies) 13.5%
De'Aaron Fox (Spurs) 13.4%
Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) 13.1%
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers) 13.0%
Klay Thompson (Mavericks) 12.5%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across today's matchups is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with a probability of 17.8%.

Following Antetokounmpo closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Ivica Zubac at 14.4% and Cade Cunningham at 14.0%.

Cade Cunningham shooting a contested jump shot.
Cade Cunningham is one of the most likely NBA players to score the first basket on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Sunday, 3/9/2025]

Having simulated the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has discovered the best NBA first basket betting pick for Sunday.

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

Giannis Antetokounmpo To Score First Basket

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Sunday's NBA slate in the game between the Cavaliers and Bucks. The bet is on Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) at odds of +550 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.4% according to our analysis.

Our model not only showcases Antetokounmpo for him 2.4% betting edge but also ranks him as the number one most likely first basket scorer for today, as seen in the earlier 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 Sunday's data-driven NBA predictions, you can gain an advantage over everyone else.

For today's full list of NBA prop picks, join Dimers Pro. We give you the tools and information to succeed with hundreds of data-driven bets across thousands of games. Sign up now to join the community!

Get All Six First Basket Picks for Sunday
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NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

NBA Schedule for Today [3/9/2025]

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

Tonight's NBA First Basket Picks: March 9, 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 9, 2025. 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 picks for Sunday, March 9, are based on thousands of data-driven game simulations, giving you 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 crucial 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.

Note: Clicking links to our sportsbook partners may earn us a referral fee.

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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 About 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.

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Written by
Jason Bevilacqua
Head of Content and Communities

Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.

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