NBA First Basket Predictions for Thursday Include Victor Wembanyama, LaMelo Ball [12/19/2024]

This Thursday, December 19th, another action-packed day of NBA basketball is on the cards, headlined by the Jazz' matchup against the Pistons at 7:00PM ET.

After examining Thursday's NBA simulation results early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of 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 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 showcase star players such as Victor Wembanyama, LaMelo Ball and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 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 December 19, 2024]

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
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)	17.3%
LaMelo Ball (Hornets)	16.7%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	15.9%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	15.3%
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	15.3%
Anthony Davis (Lakers)	14.4%
Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)	14.3%
CJ McCollum (Pelicans)	14.2%
Jalen Suggs (Magic)	14.2%
LeBron James (Lakers)	14.0%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is Victor Wembanyama, with a probability of 17.3%.

Following Wembanyama closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are LaMelo Ball at 16.7% and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 15.9%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Thursday, 12/19/2024]

Having simulated the result of today's NBA matchups 10,000 times each, 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: +1200
• Edge: 4.8%
• Probability: 12.5%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Suns (9:00PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Thursday's NBA slate in the game between the Pacers and Suns. The bet is on Tyrese Haliburton (IND) at odds of +1200 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 4.8% 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 aiming to gain 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.

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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 [12/19/2024]

• Jazz vs. Pistons (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Bulls vs. Celtics (7:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Warriors vs. Grizzlies (8:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Clippers vs. Mavericks (8:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Pacers vs. Suns (9:00PM 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: December 19, 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 December 19, 2024. 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 predictions for Thursday, December 19, are made thanks to 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 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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