NBA First Basket Predictions for Thursday Include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James [1/2/2025]

This Thursday, January 2nd, another action-packed day of NBA basketball is on the menu, headlined by the Pacers' matchup against the Heat at 7:30PM ET.

After analyzing Thursday's NBA simulation results early 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 projected to have the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Thursday.

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

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent injury reports, Thursday's NBA games are expected to feature players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, each with a high probability of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First NBA Basket Tonight? [Cheat Sheet for January 2, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Thursday'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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	18.4%
LeBron James (Lakers)	17.4%
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	17.2%
Joel Embiid (76ers)	16.3%
Jayson Tatum (Celtics)	15.9%
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	15.3%
Tyrese Maxey (76ers)	14.6%
Norman Powell (Clippers)	13.9%
Tyler Herro (Heat)	13.3%
Cam Thomas (Nets)	12.6%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's matchups is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a probability of 18.4%.

Following Gilgeous-Alexander closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are LeBron James at 17.4% and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 17.2%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Thursday, 1/2/2025]

Having simulated the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has discovered the best NBA first basket betting pick for Thursday.

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

Tyrese Haliburton To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1500
• Edge: 3.3%
• Probability: 9.5%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Heat (7:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Pacers and Heat. The bet is on Tyrese Haliburton (IND) at odds of +1500 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.3% according to our analysis.

Although Haliburton doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Thursday'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 Thursday's data-driven NBA predictions, you can gain an advantage over everyone else.

For today's full list of NBA prop picks, join 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!

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NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

• Read the latest news alerts from the official NBA feed
• Check updated NBA odds
• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Schedule for Today [1/2/2025]

• Pacers vs. Heat (7:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Celtics vs. Timberwolves (7:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Clippers vs. Thunder (8:00PM ET, Thursday)
• 76ers vs. Warriors (10:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Trail Blazers vs. Lakers (10:30PM ET, Thursday)

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: January 2, 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 2, 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 picks for Thursday, January 2, are the result of thousands of 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.

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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 About 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 and the latest NBA title odds and predictions.