NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell [5/9/2025]

This Friday, May 9th, we have another action-packed day of professional hoops ahead of us, headlined by the Cavaliers' matchup against the Pacers at 7:30PM ET.

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

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has selected as having 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 showcase star players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell and Nikola Jokic, 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 May 9, 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	14.6%
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)	14.2%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	13.8%
Jalen Williams (Thunder)	13.0%
Pascal Siakam (Pacers)	12.5%
Jamal Murray (Nuggets)	11.4%
Darius Garland (Cavaliers)	10.7%
Aaron Nesmith (Pacers)	10.5%
Aaron Gordon (Nuggets)	10.4%
Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)	10.0%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a probability of 14.6%.

Following Gilgeous-Alexander closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Donovan Mitchell at 14.2% and Nikola Jokic at 13.8%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 5/9/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our independent predictive analytics model has found the best NBA first basket betting pick for Friday.

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

Aaron Nesmith To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1100
• Edge: 2.2%
• Probability: 10.5%
• Game: Cavaliers vs. Pacers (7:30PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday's NBA slate in the game between the Cavaliers and Pacers. The bet is on Aaron Nesmith (IND) at odds of +1100 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.2% according to our analysis.

Not only does Nesmith present an edge according to our model, but him is also among our top 10 most likely first basket scorers for today, as noted in the list above.

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.

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!

NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

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NBA Schedule for Today [5/9/2025]

• Cavaliers vs. Pacers (7:30PM ET, Friday)
• Thunder vs. Nuggets (10:00PM ET, Friday)

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

Tonight's NBA First Basket Picks: May 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 May 9, 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 picks for Friday, May 9, are generated thanks to thousands of data-driven game simulations, providing reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

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Understanding Betting Edge

At Dimers, an "edge" in betting signifies our belief that an event's probability is higher than the best available NBA odds suggest. A higher betting edge indicates a greater likelihood of success. However, it's essential to remember that no bet is guaranteed, and responsible gambling practices are crucial for long-term success.

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