NBA First Basket Predictions for Friday Include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero [4/25/2025]

This Friday, April 25th, it's time for an action-packed day of NBA basketball, headlined by the Celtics' matchup against the Magic at 7:00PM ET.

After examining Friday's NBA simulations 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 greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective 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 feature big names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero and Anthony Edwards, 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 25, 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
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	16.5%
Paolo Banchero (Magic)	15.5%
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	15.2%
Franz Wagner (Magic)	14.2%
Luka Doncic (Lakers)	14.0%
LeBron James (Lakers)	12.6%
Julius Randle (Timberwolves)	11.8%
Jaylen Brown (Celtics)	11.6%
Pascal Siakam (Pacers)	11.6%
Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves)	10.7%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across today's games is Giannis Antetokounmpo, with a probability of 16.5%.

Following Antetokounmpo closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Paolo Banchero at 15.5% and Anthony Edwards at 15.2%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Friday, 4/25/2025]

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

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

Aaron Nesmith To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1500
• Edge: 3.1%
• Probability: 9.4%
• Game: Pacers vs. Bucks (8:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Pacers and Bucks. The bet is on Aaron Nesmith (IND) at odds of +1500 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.1% according to our analysis.

Although Nesmith doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Friday's NBA slate, he does present the best betting opportunity for those searching 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 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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NBA Schedule for Today [4/25/2025]

• Celtics vs. Magic (7:00PM ET, Friday)
• Pacers vs. Bucks (8:00PM ET, Friday)
• Lakers vs. Timberwolves (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 25, 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 25, 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 and predictions for Friday, April 25, are based on 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 important 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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