NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Thursday 12/21/2023

It's time for a exciting day of NBA basketball, and we've simulated all of today's matchups 10,000 times to find the most reliable NBA first basket picks and odds for Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Thursday's NBA slate features players such as Anthony Davis, Paolo Banchero and Giannis Antetokounmpo, each with a high probability of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

NBA first basket props are one of the more popular options for basketball fans to bet on, and by using Thursday's data-driven NBA predictions below, you can gain an edge over everyone else.

The best sportsbooks throughout the nation offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, and by utilizing our advanced machine learning and analysis, Dimers.com has been able to identify where to find the best value on Thursday, 12/21.

Here, we will provide you with a list of players that our analytics model has identified as NBA first basket value bets for today's action, as well as the players who have the highest likelihood of scoring the first basket on December 21.

Best First Basket Picks Tonight: Thursday 12/21/2023

Having simulated the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our independent predictive analytics model, DimersBOT, has generated the best NBA first basket betting picks for Thursday.

1. Paolo Banchero To Score First Basket (+850)

• Odds: +850
• Edge: 5.3%
• Probability: 15.8%
• Matchup: Magic vs. Bucks (8:00PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate, which is in the game between the Magic and Bucks. The bet is on Paolo Banchero (ORL) at odds of +850 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 5.3%.

The next two recommended bets are for Tyrese Haliburton (3.8% edge) to score first in the Pacers vs. Grizzlies game and Paul George (2.9%) to score the first basket in the Clippers vs. Thunder matchup.

2. Tyrese Haliburton To Score First Basket (+1000)

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 3.8%
• Probability: 12.8%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Grizzlies (8:00PM EST)

The next best NBA first basket bet for today comes in the Pacers vs. Grizzlies game, where our model has found an edge of 3.8% on Tyrese Haliburton (IND) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

3. Paul George To Score First Basket (+900)

• Odds: +900
• Edge: 2.9%
• Probability: 12.9%
• Matchup: Clippers vs. Thunder (8:00PM EST)

Our next NBA first basket bet today comes in the Clippers vs. Thunder game, where our model has found an edge of 2.9% on Paul George (LAC) at odds of +900 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

4. Franz Wagner To Score First Basket (+800)

• Odds: +800
• Edge: 2.8%
• Probability: 13.9%
• Matchup: Magic vs. Bucks (8:00PM EST)

The next best first basket bet for today's NBA action comes in the Magic vs. Bucks game, where our model has found an edge of 2.8% on Franz Wagner (ORL) at odds of +800 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

5. Kyle Kuzma To Score First Basket (+800)

• Odds: +800
• Edge: 2.4%
• Probability: 13.5%
• Matchup: Wizards vs. Trail Blazers (10:00PM EST)

Rounding out Dimers' top five NBA first basket bets for Thursday is Kyle Kuzma (WAS) at odds of +800 in the Wizards vs. Trail Blazers game. Here, our model has found an edge of 2.4% with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA First Basket Predictions: Thursday, December 21, 2023

In addition to providing you with the best NBA first basket bets today, Dimers.com has also determined the most likely players to score the first basket across all of Thursday's games.

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is Anthony Davis, with a probability of 16.7%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Paolo Banchero, with a 15.8% probability, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, with a 15.0% probability.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight: December 21, 2023

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

Player (Team)	First Basket Probability
Anthony Davis (Lakers)	16.7%
Paolo Banchero (Magic)	15.8%
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	15.0%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	15.0%
Franz Wagner (Magic)	13.9%
Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)	13.9%
Ivica Zubac (Clippers)	13.8%
Kyle Kuzma (Wizards)	13.5%
Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)	13.0%
Paul George (Clippers)	12.9%

Keep in mind that this list only shows the players with the highest probability of scoring the first basket on Thursday, which does not necessarily mean that DimersBOT recommends betting on them.

To increase your chances of winning when betting on NBA props, it's important to look out for favorable odds.

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.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: December 21, 2023

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 21, 2023, and automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting. Human editing and quality control is performed to ensure the content meets our editorial guidelines.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks for Thursday, December 21, are the result of 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 sports betting, 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.

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