NBA First Basket Predictions for Thursday Include Ja Morant, Karlo Matkovic [4/10/2025]

This Thursday, April 10th, it's time for an exciting day of NBA basketball, headlined by the Cavaliers' matchup against the Pacers at 7:00PM ET.

After going over Thursday's NBA simulation results early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our data analysts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has selected as having the highest probability 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 latest NBA Injury Report, Thursday's NBA games are expected to feature big names such as Ja Morant, Karlo Matkovic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, each with a high probability of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for April 10, 2025]

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
Ja Morant (Grizzlies)	16.1%
Karlo Matkovic (Pelicans)	15.6%
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	15.5%
Ty Jerome (Cavaliers)	15.3%
Cade Cunningham (Pistons)	14.3%
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	14.0%
Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers)	14.0%
Nic Claxton (Nets)	12.7%
Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)	12.5%
Antonio Reeves (Pelicans)	12.4%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's games is Ja Morant, with a probability of 16.1%.

Following Morant closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Karlo Matkovic at 15.6% and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 15.5%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Thursday, 4/10/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA matchups thousands of times each, our leading predictive analytics model has discovered the best NBA first basket bet for you to make on Thursday.

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

Tyrese Haliburton To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1100
• Edge: 3.3%
• Probability: 11.6%
• Game: Cavaliers vs. Pacers (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Thursday's NBA slate in the game between the Cavaliers and Pacers. The bet is on Tyrese Haliburton (IND) at odds of +1100 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.3% 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 looking 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 Thursday'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!

NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

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NBA Schedule for Today [4/10/2025]

• Cavaliers vs. Pacers (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Knicks vs. Pistons (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies (9:30PM ET, Thursday)

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

Tonight's NBA First Basket Picks: April 10, 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 April 10, 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 for Thursday, April 10, are made after thousands of data-driven game simulations, giving you reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

If you plan to use today's NBA first basket picks for sports betting, it's vital 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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