NBA First Basket Predictions for Thursday Include LeBron James, Anthony Edwards [1/30/2025]

This Thursday, January 30th, we have another action-packed day of NBA basketball upon us, headlined by the Hawks' matchup against the Cavaliers at 7:00PM ET.

After evaluating Thursday's NBA simulation results this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of data analysts have revealed their best first basket bet of the day.

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has projected to have the highest probability 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 latest NBA Injury Report, Thursday's NBA games are expected to showcase star players such as LeBron James, Anthony Edwards and Jonas Valanciunas, each with a high chance of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for January 30, 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
LeBron James (Lakers)	15.8%
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	14.6%
Jonas Valanciunas (Wizards)	13.8%
Jalen Green (Rockets)	13.7%
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)	13.6%
Franz Wagner (Magic)	13.6%
Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)	13.3%
Darius Garland (Cavaliers)	13.3%
Alperen Sengun (Rockets)	13.1%
Jalen Suggs (Magic)	12.6%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's matchups is LeBron James, with a probability of 15.8%.

Following James closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Anthony Edwards at 14.6% and Jonas Valanciunas at 13.8%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Thursday, 1/30/2025]

After simulating the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has found the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Thursday.

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

Jalen Green To Score First Basket

• Odds: +900
• Edge: 3.7%
• Probability: 13.7%
• Matchup: Rockets vs. Grizzlies (9:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Thursday's NBA slate in the game between the Rockets and Grizzlies. The bet is on Jalen Green (HOU) at odds of +900 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.7% according to our analysis.

Our model not only showcases Green for him 3.7% betting edge but also ranks him among the top five most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the preceding list.

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

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

NBA Schedule for Today [1/30/2025]

• Hawks vs. Cavaliers (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Lakers vs. Wizards (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Timberwolves vs. Jazz (9:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Rockets vs. Grizzlies (9:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Magic vs. Trail Blazers (10:00PM 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 30, 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 30, 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 Thursday, January 30, have been generated after thousands of data-driven game simulations, providing 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 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 on NBA

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

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