NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [1/3/2025]

This Friday, January 3rd, it's time for an action-packed day of NBA basketball, headlined by the Magic's matchup against the Raptors at 7:30PM ET.

After assessing Friday's NBA simulation results early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data experts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

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Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has determined to have 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 slate is expected to showcase star players such as Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Suggs, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First NBA Basket Tonight? [Cheat Sheet for January 3, 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
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)	17.5%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	17.0%
Jalen Suggs (Magic)	15.3%
Mark Williams (Hornets)	15.1%
LeBron James (Lakers)	14.8%
Klay Thompson (Mavericks)	14.3%
De'Aaron Fox (Kings)	14.1%
Cade Cunningham (Pistons)	14.0%
CJ McCollum (Pelicans)	13.8%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	13.6%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's matchups is Victor Wembanyama, with a probability of 17.5%.

Following Wembanyama closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 17.0% and Jalen Suggs at 15.3%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 1/3/2025]

Having simulated the result of today's NBA matchups 10K times each, our trusted 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.

Klay Thompson To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 5.2%
• Probability: 14.3%
• Matchup: Cavaliers vs. Mavericks (8:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday's NBA slate in the game between the Cavaliers and Mavericks. The bet is on Klay Thompson (DAL) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 5.2% according to our analysis.

Not only does Thompson present an edge according to our model, but he is also among our top 10 most likely first basket scorers for today, as noted in the list above.

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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• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Schedule for Today [1/3/2025]

• Magic vs. Raptors (7:30PM ET, Friday)
• Knicks vs. Thunder (8:00PM ET, Friday)
• Cavaliers vs. Mavericks (8:30PM ET, Friday)
• Grizzlies vs. Kings (10:00PM ET, Friday)
• Hawks vs. Lakers (10:30PM ET, Friday)

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

Tonight's NBA First Basket Picks: January 3, 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 3, 2025. Automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting, while human editing and quality control ensure the content meets our editorial standards.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks for Friday, January 3, are generated thanks to thousands of 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 sports betting, it's crucial that you practice responsible gambling 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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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.

More on NBA

This article is part of our NBA player props and NBA best bets series.

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