NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Friday 11/17/2023

We have another big day of NBA ahead of us, and we've simulated all of today's matchups 10,000 times to find the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Friday, November 17, 2023.

NBA first basket props are one of the more popular options for NBA fans to bet on, and by using Friday's data-backed projections below, you can gain an edge over everyone else.

All of the best online sportsbooks across the country offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, and by utilizing our state-of-the-art machine learning and analysis, Dimers.com has identified where to find the best value on Friday, 11/17.

Friday's NBA slate features big names such as Devin Booker, Lauri Markkanen, and LeBron James, each with a high chance of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

This article will provide you with a list of players that our basketball model has identified as NBA first basket value bets for today's action, as well as the players who have the highest likelihood of scoring the first basket on November 17.

MORE: Every NBA Game Simulated 10,000 Times

Best First Basket Picks Tonight: Friday 11/17/2023

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our trusted predictive analytics model, DimersBOT, has found the best NBA first basket betting picks for Friday.

1. Paul George To Score First Basket (+750)

• Odds: +750 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 1.5%
• Probability: 13.3%
• Game: Rockets vs. Clippers (10:30PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Friday's NBA slate, which is in the game between the Rockets and Clippers. The bet is on Paul George (LAC) at odds of +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 1.5%.

The next two recommended bets are for Lauri Markkanen (1.3% edge) to score first in the Suns vs. Jazz game and LeBron James (0.8%) to score the first basket in the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers matchup.

2. Lauri Markkanen To Score First Basket (+650)

• Odds: +650 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 1.3%
• Probability: 14.7%
• Game: Suns vs. Jazz (10:00PM EST)

The next best NBA first basket bet for today comes in the Suns vs. Jazz game, where our model has found an edge of 1.3% on Lauri Markkanen (UTA) at odds of +650 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

3. LeBron James To Score First Basket (+650)

• Odds: +650 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.8%
• Probability: 14.2%
• Matchup: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers (10:00PM EST)

Our next NBA first basket bet on Friday comes in the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers game, where our model has found an edge of 0.8% on LeBron James (LAL) at odds of +650 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA First Basket Predictions: Friday, November 17, 2023

In addition to presenting the best NBA first basket bets today, Dimers.com has also determined the most likely players to score the first basket across all of Friday's games.

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket across all of today's matchups is Devin Booker, with a probability of 15.3%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Lauri Markkanen, with a 14.7% probability, and LeBron James, with a 14.2% probability.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight: November 17, 2023

Thanks to simulating every one of Friday's NBA games 10,000 times each, Dimers has determined the 10 players most likely to score the first basket in their respective games.

Player (Team)	First Basket Probability
Devin Booker (Suns)	15.3%
Lauri Markkanen (Jazz)	14.7%
LeBron James (Lakers)	14.2%
Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers)	13.8%
Alperen Sengun (Rockets)	13.6%
Kevin Durant (Suns)	13.6%
Paul George (Clippers)	13.3%

Keep in mind that this list only shows the players with the highest probability of scoring the first basket on Friday, which does not always indicate that our model recommends betting on them.

To increase your chances of winning, it's important to keep an eye on favorable odds.

MORE: NBA Props

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.

Tonight's NBA First Basket Picks: November 17, 2023

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks for Friday, November 17, are made 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 sports betting, it's important 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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