NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [1/10/2025]

This Friday, January 10th, another exciting day of NBA basketball is on the menu, headlined by the Bucks' matchup against the Magic at 7:00PM ET.

After scrutinizing Friday's NBA simulations this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data analysts have revealed their best first basket bet of the day.

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Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has selected as having the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Friday.

Let's dive into today's NBA first basket news and updates.

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent injury reports, Friday's NBA games are expected to showcase star players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and CJ McCollum, each with a high chance of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First NBA Basket Tonight? [Cheat Sheet for January 10, 2025]

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

Player (Team)	First Basket Probability
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	18.5%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	18.4%
CJ McCollum (Pelicans)	15.9%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	15.3%
Paolo Banchero (Magic)	14.5%
Tyrese Maxey (76ers)	14.3%
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors)	13.6%
Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)	13.4%
Domantas Sabonis (Kings)	13.3%
Zach LaVine (Bulls)	13.3%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with a probability of 18.5%.

Following Antetokounmpo closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 18.4% and CJ McCollum at 15.9%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 1/10/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our leading predictive analytics model has generated the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Friday.

For full access to our comprehensive analysis and top picks, subscribe to Dimers Pro.

Malik Monk To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1200
• Edge: 3.4%
• Probability: 11.1%
• Matchup: Kings vs. Celtics (7:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday's NBA slate in the game between the Kings and Celtics. The bet is on Malik Monk (SAC) at odds of +1200 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.4% according to our analysis.

Although Monk doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Friday's NBA slate, he does present the best betting opportunity for those looking for an edge on the market.

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 Friday's data-driven NBA predictions, you can gain an advantage over everyone else.

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NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

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NBA Schedule for Today [1/10/2025]

• Bucks vs. Magic (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Warriors vs. Pacers (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Kings vs. Celtics (7:30PM ET, Friday)
• Thunder vs. Knicks (7:30PM ET, Friday)
• Wizards vs. Bulls (8:00PM ET, Friday)

For more betting guides, check out Friday's NBA best bets and our NBA player prop picks for Friday.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: January 10, 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 January 10, 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 Friday, January 10, are based on rigorous data-driven game simulations, giving you 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 important 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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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.

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