NBA First Basket Predictions for Game 2 Include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam [6/8/2025]

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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, June 8th, another action-packed day of NBA Finals basketball is on the cards, with the Pacers taking on the Thunder Game 2 of the 2025 Finals at 8:00PM ET.

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

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has projected to have the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in Sunday's lone game.

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 Finals Game 2 is set to feature players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Chet Holmgren, each with a high chance of scoring the first basket in tonight's matchup.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for June 8, 2025]

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in Sunday's clash is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a probability of 16.6%.

With Game 2 of the NBA Finals between OKC and Indiana on the slate for tonight, we have determined the probabilities for each of the 10 likely starters to score first:

Player (Team) First Basket Probability
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) 16.6%
Pascal Siakam (Pacers) 14.6%
Chet Holmgren (Thunder) 11.3%
Jalen Williams (Thunder) 11.0%
Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) 10.8%
Myles Turner (Pacers) 9.4%
Aaron Nesmith (Pacers) 8.0%
Andrew Nembhard (Pacers) 7.1%
Luguentz Dort (Thunder) 5.9%
Cason Wallace (Thunder) 5.2%

Following Gilgeous-Alexander closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Pascal Siakam at 14.6% and Chet Holmgren at 11.3%.

Pascal Siakam scoring a layup.
Pascal Siakam is one of the most likely NBA players to score the first basket in Game 2 of the 2025 Finals.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [NBA Finals Game 2]

After simulating the result of today's Pacers vs. Thunder Game 2, our trusted predictive analytics 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.

Pascal Siakam To Score First Basket

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Game 2 between the Pacers and Thunder. The bet is on Pascal Siakam (IND) at odds of +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.8% according to our analysis.

Our model not only highlights Siakam for his 2.8% betting edge but also ranks him among the top three most first basket likely scorers for today's Pacers vs. Thunder matchup, as seen in the preceding 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 Finals 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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: June 8, 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 June 8, 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 predictions for Sunday, June 8, have been made thanks to 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 crucial that you practice responsible gambling and manage your finances 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.

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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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