NBA First Basket Predictions, Odds and Value Bets Today [Friday, 5/3/2024]

We have another exciting day of NBA Playoffs upon us, and we've run thousands of simulations to find the most reliable NBA first basket predictions and odds for Friday, May 3, 2024.

Friday's NBA Playoffs action is set to showcase star players such as Paolo Banchero, Luka Doncic and Ivica Zubac, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

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

This article will provide you with a list of players that our basketball model has identified as NBA first basket value bets for today's action, as well as the players who are most likely to score the first basket on May 3.

For today's full list of NBA prop picks, sign up to 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!

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight: May 3, 2024

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

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket today is Paolo Banchero, with a probability of 13.8%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Luka Doncic, with a 13.7% probability, and Ivica Zubac, with a 13.5% probability. Keep in mind that this list only shows the players most likely to score the first basket on Friday, which does not always indicate that our model, DimersBOT, recommends betting on them.

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

Best First Basket Picks Today: Friday 5/3/2024

Having simulated the result of today's NBA Playoffs action thousands of times, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Friday.

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

1. Paolo Banchero To Score First Basket (+700)

• Odds: +700
• Edge: 1.3%
• Probability: 13.8%
• Game: Cavaliers vs. Magic (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday, which is in the game between the Cavaliers and Magic. The bet is on Paolo Banchero (ORL) at odds of +700 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 1.3%.

The next two recommended bets are for Darius Garland (1.2% edge) to score first in the Cavaliers vs. Magic game and Ivica Zubac (1.0%) to score the first basket in the Clippers vs. Mavericks matchup.

2. Darius Garland To Score First Basket (+950)

• Odds: +950
• Edge: 1.2%
• Probability: 10.7%
• Matchup: Cavaliers vs. Magic (7:00PM ET)

The next best NBA first basket bet for Friday also comes in the Cavaliers vs. Magic game, where our model has found an edge of 1.2% on Darius Garland (CLE) at odds of +950 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

MORE: Friday's Best NBA Bets

3. Ivica Zubac To Score First Basket (+700)

• Odds: +700
• Edge: 1.0%
• Probability: 13.5%
• Game: Clippers vs. Mavericks (9:30PM ET)

Our next NBA first basket bet today comes in the Clippers vs. Mavericks game, where our model has found an edge of 1.0% on Ivica Zubac (LAC) at odds of +700 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

MORE: Friday's NBA Prop Picks

4. Franz Wagner To Score First Basket (+700)

• Odds: +700
• Edge: 0.3%
• Probability: 12.8%
• Matchup: Cavaliers vs. Magic (7:00PM ET)

The next best first basket bet for Friday's NBA action comes in the Cavaliers vs. Magic game, where our model has found an edge of 0.3% on Franz Wagner (ORL) at odds of +700 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

5. Terance Mann To Score First Basket (+1000)

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 0.2%
• Probability: 9.3%
• Game: Clippers vs. Mavericks (9:30PM ET)

Rounding out our top five NBA first basket bets for Friday is Terance Mann (LAC) at odds of +1000 in the Clippers vs. Mavericks game. Here, our model has found an edge of 0.2% with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA Games

For more NBA picks and props, check out our full betting previews for each game on the Friday slate:

• Cavaliers vs. Magic Prediction (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Clippers vs. Mavericks Prediction (9:30PM ET, Friday)

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.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: May 3, 2024

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 3, 2024, and automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting. Human editing and quality control is performed to ensure the content meets our editorial standards.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks and predictions for Friday, May 3, 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 predictions for your personal gambling, it's important that you practice responsible gambling 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.

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, the best NBA promos and the latest NBA title odds and predictions.