NBA First Basket Predictions for Sunday Include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [3/16/2025]

This Sunday, March 16th, another big day of NBA basketball is on the cards, headlined by the Suns' matchup against the Lakers at 3:30PM ET.

After examining Sunday'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.

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 latest NBA Injury Report, Sunday's NBA games are expected to showcase big names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for March 16, 2025]

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
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	17.8%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	16.5%
Luka Doncic (Lakers)	16.4%
Miles Bridges (Hornets)	15.1%
Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers)	13.3%
Collin Sexton (Jazz)	13.1%
Mark Williams (Hornets)	12.8%
Scottie Barnes (Raptors)	12.7%
Ivica Zubac (Clippers)	12.5%
Cameron Johnson (Nets)	12.3%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's matchups is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with a probability of 17.8%.

Following Antetokounmpo closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 16.5% and Luka Doncic at 16.4%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Sunday, 3/16/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA matchups 10K times each, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Sunday.

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

Anfernee Simons To Score First Basket

• Odds: +750
• Edge: 1.5%
• Probability: 13.3%
• Game: Raptors vs. Trail Blazers (6:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Raptors and Trail Blazers. The bet is on Anfernee Simons (POR) at odds of +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 1.5% according to our analysis.

Not only does Simons present an edge according to the model, but he is also among our top five 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 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!

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NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

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NBA Schedule for Today [3/16/2025]

• Suns vs. Lakers (3:30PM ET, Sunday)
• Raptors vs. Trail Blazers (6:00PM ET, Sunday)

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: March 16, 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 March 16, 2025. Automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting, while human editing and quality control ensure the content meets our editorial guidelines.

All of our NBA first basket predictions for Sunday, March 16, are generated thanks to 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 important that you gamble responsibly 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 on NBA

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

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