NBA First Basket Predictions for Sunday Include Nikola Jokic, Scottie Barnes [12/22/2024]

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Written by Jason Bevilacqua

Our expert analysis on Sunday's NBA first basket market.

NBA First Basket Predictions Today.
The most likely NBA first basket scorers for Sunday have been revealed.

This Sunday, December 22nd, another action-packed day of NBA basketball is on the cards, headlined by the Rockets' matchup against the Raptors at 6:00PM ET.

After going over Sunday's NBA simulations this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data experts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

Sign up with code HOLIDAYS at checkout right now to receive 50% off your first month of Dimers Pro! This offer won't last forever.

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 Sunday.

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

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent injury reports, Sunday's NBA games are expected to showcase star players such as Nikola Jokic, Scottie Barnes and CJ McCollum, each with a high chance of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First NBA Basket Tonight? [Cheat Sheet for December 22, 2024]

Thanks to simulating Sunday'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
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) 15.9%
Scottie Barnes (Raptors) 13.4%
CJ McCollum (Pelicans) 13.4%
Alperen Sengun (Rockets) 13.3%
Pascal Siakam (Pacers) 12.5%
Domantas Sabonis (Kings) 12.4%
De'Aaron Fox (Kings) 12.0%
Jalen Green (Rockets) 11.9%
Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) 11.4%
DeMar DeRozan (Kings) 10.5%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across today's matchups is Nikola Jokic, with a probability of 15.9%.

Following Jokic closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Scottie Barnes at 13.4% and CJ McCollum at 13.4%.

Nikola Jokic shooting a layup with three defenders on him.
Nikola Jokic is one of the most likely NBA players to score the first basket on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Sunday, 12/22/2024]

Having simulated the result of today's NBA matchups 10K times each, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket betting pick for Sunday.

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

Ochai Agbaji To Score First Basket

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Rockets and Raptors. The bet is on Ochai Agbaji (TOR) at odds of +1400 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.9% according to our analysis.

Although Agbaji doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Sunday's NBA slate, he does present the best betting opportunity for those aiming 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 Sunday'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!

To increase your chances of winning when betting on NBA props, it's important to keep an eye on favorable odds.

NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

NBA Schedule for Today [12/22/2024]

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: December 22, 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 22, 2024. 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 Sunday, December 22, are 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 picks for your personal gambling, it's vital 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

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.

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Written by
Jason Bevilacqua
Head of Content and Communities

Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.

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