NBA First Basket Predictions for Sunday Include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum [3/23/2025]

This Sunday, March 23rd, we have another exciting day of NBA basketball ahead of us, headlined by the Celtics' matchup against the Trail Blazers at 6:00PM ET.

After analyzing 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.

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has determined 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 feature players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum and Quentin Grimes, 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 March 23, 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	16.7%
Jayson Tatum (Celtics)	16.1%
Quentin Grimes (76ers)	14.5%
Anfernee Simons (Trail Blazers)	14.2%
RJ Barrett (Raptors)	13.4%
Stephon Castle (Spurs)	13.4%
Scottie Barnes (Raptors)	13.2%
Ivica Zubac (Clippers)	13.0%
Miles Bridges (Hornets)	12.9%
Aaron Gordon (Nuggets)	12.7%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across today's matchups is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a probability of 16.7%.

Following Gilgeous-Alexander closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Jayson Tatum at 16.1% and Quentin Grimes at 14.5%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Sunday, 3/23/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA matchups thousands of times each, our independent predictive analytics 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: +950
• Edge: 4.6%
• Probability: 14.2%
• Matchup: Celtics 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 Celtics and Trail Blazers. The bet is on Anfernee Simons (POR) at odds of +950 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 4.6% according to our analysis.

Dimers' model not only highlights Simons for him 4.6% betting edge but also ranks him among the top five most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the earlier 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 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 [3/23/2025]

• Celtics vs. Trail Blazers (6:00PM ET, Sunday)
• 76ers vs. Hawks (6:00PM ET, Sunday)
• Nuggets vs. Rockets (7:00PM ET, Sunday)
• Thunder vs. Clippers (9:00PM 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 23, 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 23, 2025. 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 picks for Sunday, March 23, have been generated after rigorous 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 your personal gambling, 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 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.