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NBA first basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get first basket predictions today backed by expert analysis of NBA slate on 12/9.
Our NBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Tuesday, December 9, 2025—are live with the Heat's Norman Powell projected as the most likely player to score first.
These projections draw on detailed first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily NBA player projections.
Powell, Brandon Ingram and Jalen Brunson lead Tuesday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also feature tonight's best first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.
NBA first basket predictions tonight (December 9, 2025)
| Player | Team | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | Heat | 13.8% |
| Brandon Ingram | Raptors | 12.8% |
| Jalen Brunson | Knicks | 12.6% |
| Scottie Barnes | Raptors | 11.7% |
| Desmond Bane | Magic | 11.4% |
| Paolo Banchero | Magic | 11.2% |
| Jalen Suggs | Magic | 11.1% |
| Tyler Herro | Heat | 10.9% |
| Immanuel Quickley | Raptors | 10.8% |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Knicks | 10.8% |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | 10.4% |
| Anthony Black | Magic | 9.9% |
| OG Anunoby | Knicks | 9.9% |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | 9.4% |
| Jakob Poeltl | Raptors | 8.8% |
NBA first basket picks today (December 9, 2025)
| Player | Team | Edge | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Black | Magic | 1.6% | +1100 | 9.9% |
| Norman Powell | Heat | 1.3% | +700 | 13.8% |
| OG Anunoby | Knicks | 0.8% | +1000 | 9.9% |
| Jalen Suggs | Magic | 0.5% | +850 | 11.1% |
| Immanuel Quickley | Raptors | 0.2% | +850 | 10.8% |
Edges represent the difference between model probability and implied odds.
For more insights on prop markets and value plays across the league, explore our full list of NBA prop bets for 12/9.
Conclusion: Betting on today's NBA first basket
For Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Norman Powell, Brandon Ingram and Jalen Brunson lead our first basket projections, while Anthony Black shapes as the strongest value play at +1100. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ NBA first basket model.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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