NBA First Basket Predictions for Wednesday Include Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine [4/16/2025]

This Wednesday, April 16th, another exciting day of NBA action is on the cards, headlined by the Heat's matchup against the Bulls at 7:30PM ET.

After scrutinizing Wednesday's NBA simulations early 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 projected to have the highest probability of scoring the first basket in their respective Play-In matchups on Wednesday.

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, Wednesday's NBA Play-In Tournment games are expected to feature big names such as Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine and Tyler Herro, 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 16, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Wednesday'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
Anthony Davis (Mavericks)	13.1%
Zach LaVine (Kings)	13.1%
Tyler Herro (Heat)	12.5%
Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)	12.3%
Domantas Sabonis (Kings)	12.3%
DeMar DeRozan (Kings)	12.0%
Coby White (Bulls)	11.0%
Andrew Wiggins (Heat)	10.6%
Bam Adebayo (Heat)	10.4%
P.J. Washington (Mavericks)	10.2%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across today's matchups is Anthony Davis, with a probability of 13.1%.

Following Davis closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Zach LaVine at 13.1% and Tyler Herro at 12.5%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Wednesday, 4/16/2025]

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

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

Zach LaVine To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 4.0%
• Probability: 13.1%
• Game: Mavericks vs. Kings (10:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Wednesday's NBA slate in the game between the Mavericks and Kings. The bet is on Zach LaVine (SAC) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 4.0% according to our analysis.

Dimers' model not only features LaVine for him 4.0% betting edge but also ranks him among the top three most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the above 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 Wednesday'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 Play-In action Schedule for Today [4/16/2025]

• Heat vs. Bulls (7:30PM ET, Wednesday)
• Mavericks vs. Kings (10:00PM ET, Wednesday)

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: April 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 April 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 Dimers' NBA first basket picks and predictions for Wednesday, April 16, are generated 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 picks for your personal gambling, it's crucial that you practice responsible gambling 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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