NBA First Basket Predictions, Odds and Value Bets Today - Saturday 3/23/2024

Another action-packed day of NBA basketball is on the cards, and we've simulated each game thousands of times to find the best NBA first basket picks and odds for Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Saturday's NBA slate features big names such as Jalen Brunson, De'Aaron Fox and Jaylen Brown, each with a high probability of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

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

This article will provide you with a list of players that our predictive 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 March 23.

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: March 23, 2024

Thanks to simulating each one of Saturday'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
Jalen Brunson (Knicks)	18.3%
De'Aaron Fox (Kings)	15.4%
Jaylen Brown (Celtics)	14.9%
Cam Thomas (Nets)	14.6%
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)	14.5%
Jalen Green (Rockets)	14.4%
Dejounte Murray (Hawks)	14.1%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	14.0%
John Collins (Jazz)	13.6%
Keyonte George (Jazz)	13.5%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's matchups is Jalen Brunson, with a probability of 18.3%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are De'Aaron Fox, with a 15.4% probability, and Jaylen Brown, with a 14.9% probability. Remember, although this list shows the players with the highest probability of scoring the first basket on Saturday, it does not always mean they are suggested bets according to DimersBOT.

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: Saturday 3/23/2024

After simulating the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our trusted predictive analytics model, DimersBOT, has generated the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Saturday.

1. De'Aaron Fox To Score First Basket (+750)

• Odds: +750
• Edge: 3.6%
• Probability: 15.4%
• Matchup: Kings vs. Magic (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate, which is in the game between the Kings and Magic. The bet is on De'Aaron Fox (SAC) at odds of +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 3.6%.

The next two recommended bets are for Harrison Barnes (3.0% edge) to score first in the Kings vs. Magic game and DeMar DeRozan (2.7%) to score the first basket in the Celtics vs. Bulls matchup.

2. Harrison Barnes To Score First Basket (+1300)

• Odds: +1300
• Edge: 3.0%
• Probability: 10.1%
• Game: Kings vs. Magic (7:00PM ET)

The next best NBA first basket bet for Saturday also comes in the Kings vs. Magic game, where our model has found an edge of 3.0% on Harrison Barnes (SAC) at odds of +1300 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

**MORE: [Saturday's Best NBA Bets](https://www.dimers.com/news/nba-picks-today-and-best-bets-saturday-3232024]

3. DeMar DeRozan To Score First Basket (+1000)

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 2.7%
• Probability: 11.8%
• Matchup: Celtics vs. Bulls (8:00PM ET)

Our next NBA first basket bet on Saturday comes in the Celtics vs. Bulls game, where our model has found an edge of 2.7% on DeMar DeRozan (CHI) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

**MORE: [Saturday's NBA Prop Picks](https://www.dimers.com/news/nba-picks-today-and-best-bets-saturday-march-23-2024]

4. Nikola Vucevic To Score First Basket (+800)

• Odds: +800
• Edge: 2.1%
• Probability: 13.2%
• Matchup: Celtics vs. Bulls (8:00PM ET)

The next best first basket bet for Saturday's NBA action comes in the Celtics vs. Bulls game, where our model has found an edge of 2.1% on Nikola Vucevic (CHI) at odds of +800 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

5. Ayo Dosunmu To Score First Basket (+1100)

• Odds: +1100
• Edge: 1.6%
• Probability: 10%
• Matchup: Celtics vs. Bulls (8:00PM ET)

Rounding out our top five NBA first basket bets for Saturday is Ayo Dosunmu (CHI) at odds of +1100 in the Celtics vs. Bulls game. Here, our model has found an edge of 1.6% with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA Games

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

• Kings vs. Magic Prediction (7:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Celtics vs. Bulls Prediction (8:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Jazz vs. Rockets Prediction (8:00PM ET, Saturday)
• Nuggets vs. Trail Blazers Prediction (10:00PM ET, Saturday)

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: March 23, 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 March 23, 2024, 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 our NBA first basket predictions for Saturday, March 23, are the result of thousands of data-driven game simulations, giving you 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 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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