NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Ja Morant, Anthony Davis [4/18/2025]

This Friday, April 18th, it's time for a big day of NBA basketball, headlined by the Heat's matchup against the Hawks at 7:00PM ET.

After examining Friday's NBA simulation results 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 identified as having the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective Play-In matchups on Friday.

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, Friday's NBA Play-In Tournment games are expected to showcase players such as Ja Morant, Anthony Davis and Tyler Herro, 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 April 18, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Friday'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)	15.3%
Anthony Davis (Mavericks)	13.7%
Tyler Herro (Heat)	12.9%
Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)	12.5%
Trae Young (Hawks)	11.3%
Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)	11.1%
Bam Adebayo (Heat)	10.7%
Andrew Wiggins (Heat)	10.6%
Dyson Daniels (Hawks)	10.0%
P.J. Washington (Mavericks)	9.5%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's matchups is Ja Morant, with a probability of 15.3%.

Following Morant closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Anthony Davis at 13.7% and Tyler Herro at 12.9%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 4/18/2025]

After simulating the outcome of today's NBA matchups thousands of times each, our predictive model has discovered the best NBA first basket betting pick for Friday.

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

Zaccharie Risacher To Score First Basket

• Odds: +850
• Edge: 1.9%
• Probability: 12.5%
• Matchup: Heat vs. Hawks (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday's NBA slate in the game between the Heat and Hawks. The bet is on Zaccharie Risacher (ATL) at odds of +850 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 1.9% according to our analysis.

Not only does Risacher present an edge according to our model, but him 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 Friday'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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• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Play-In action Schedule for Today [4/18/2025]

• Heat vs. Hawks (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Mavericks vs. Grizzlies (9:30PM ET, Friday)

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

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: April 18, 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 18, 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 picks and predictions for Friday, April 18, have been generated after rigorous data-driven game simulations, giving you reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

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Understanding Betting Edge

At Dimers, an "edge" in betting signifies our belief that an event's probability is higher than the best available NBA odds suggest. A higher betting edge indicates a greater likelihood of success. However, it's essential to remember that no bet is guaranteed, and responsible gambling practices are crucial for long-term success.

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