NBA First Basket Predictions for Saturday Include Cameron Johnson, Nikola Jokic [2/22/2025]

This Saturday, February 22nd, it's time for a big day of NBA basketball, headlined by the Lakers' matchup against the Nuggets at 8:30PM ET.

After reviewing Saturday's NBA simulations this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of data analysts 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 highest probability of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Saturday.

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, Saturday's NBA games are expected to feature players such as Cameron Johnson, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James, each with a high chance of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for February 22, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Saturday'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.

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's games is Cameron Johnson, with a probability of 13.8%.

Following Johnson closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Nikola Jokic at 13.8% and LeBron James at 13.8%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Saturday, 2/22/2025]

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

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

LeBron James To Score First Basket

• Odds: +800
• Edge: 2.7%
• Probability: 13.8%
• Matchup: Lakers vs. Nuggets (8:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Saturday's NBA slate in the game between the Lakers and Nuggets. The bet is on LeBron James (LAL) at odds of +800 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.7% according to our analysis.

Dimers' model not only features James for him 2.7% betting edge but also ranks him among the top three most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the earlier list.

LeBron James First Basket Scorer

+800

Bet $50
Payout $450Bet $50, Payout $450

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 Saturday'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 [2/22/2025]

• Lakers vs. Nuggets (8:30PM ET, Saturday)
• Rockets vs. Jazz (9:30PM ET, Saturday)

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: February 22, 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 February 22, 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 and predictions for Saturday, February 22, have been 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 sports betting, it's crucial 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.

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.