NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Friday 5/19/23

Another big day of NBA Playoffs action is on the cards, and we've run thousands of Celtics vs. Heat Game 2 simulations to find the best NBA first basket predictions for you on Friday May 19, 2023.

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

The top online sportsbooks offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, and by utilizing our advanced machine learning and data, Dimers.com has identified where to find the best value on Friday 5/19.

Friday's NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 between the Celtics and Heat is set to feature star players such as Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

This article will provide you with a list of players that our supercomputer 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 May 19.

MORE: Every NBA Game Simulated 10,000 Times

Best First Basket Picks Today - Celtics vs. Heat Game 2

Having simulated today's Celtics vs. Heat Game 2, our model has discovered the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Friday.

Marcus Smart To Score First Basket (+1400)

• Odds: +1400 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 1.5%
• Probability: 8.2%
• Game: Heat vs. Celtics (8:30PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today, which is in the game between the Heat and Celtics. The bet is on Marcus Smart (BOS) at odds of +1400 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 1.5%.

The next two recommended bets are for Kevin Love (0.7% edge) to score first in the Heat vs. Celtics game, and Max Strus (0.7%) to score the first basket, also in the Heat-Celtics matchup.

Kevin Love To Score First Basket (+1600)

• Odds: +1600 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.7%
• Probability: 6.6%
• Game: Heat vs. Celtics (8:30PM ET)

The next best NBA first basket bet for today also comes in the Heat vs. Celtics game, where our model has found an edge of 0.7% on Kevin Love (MIA) at odds of +1600 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Max Strus To Score First Basket (+1100)

• Odds: +1100 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.7%
• Probability: 9%
• Game: Heat vs. Celtics (8:30PM ET)

Our next best NBA first basket bet today comes in the Heat vs. Celtics game, where our model has found an edge of 0.7% on Max Strus (MIA) at odds of +1100 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Jimmy Butler To Score First Basket (+550)

• Odds: +550 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.2%
• Probability: 15.6%
• Game: Heat vs. Celtics (8:30PM ET)

Our next best first basket bet for Friday's NBA action comes in the Heat vs. Celtics game, where our model has found an edge of 0.2% on Jimmy Butler (MIA) at odds of +550 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Tonight's NBA First Basket Predictions - Friday May 19, 2023

As well as presenting the best NBA first basket bets today, Dimers.com has also identified the most likely players to score the first basket in Game 2 of Celtics vs. Heat.

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket tonight is Jimmy Butler, with a probability of 15.6%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Jaylen Brown, with a 15.0% probability, and Jayson Tatum, with a 14.2% probability.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight - May 19, 2023

With Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Celtics and Heat scheduled tonight, DimersBOT has provided the probabiliy of each of the 10 projected starters scoring first.

• Jimmy Butler (MIA): 15.6% probability
• Jaylen Brown (BOS): 15.0% probability
• Jayson Tatum (BOS): 14.2% probability
• Bam Adebayo (MIA): 11.4% probability
• Max Strus (MIA): 9.0% probability
• Marcus Smart (BOS): 8.2% probability
• Robert Williams (BOS): 7.6% probability
• Gabe Vincent (MIA): 7.4% probability
• Kevin Love (MIA): 6.6% probability
• Al Horford (BOS): 5.0% probability

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

To increase your chances of winning, it's important to look out for favorable odds.

MORE: NBA Props - Friday May 19, 2023

What Is an Edge in Betting?

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 edge can increase your chances of being profitable in the long run. This is an essential aspect of a successful sports betting strategy.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks - May 19, 2023

All of our NBA first basket picks and predictions for Friday May 19 have been generated thanks to 10,000 data-driven simulations per matchup, giving you 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 vital 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.

More About NBA

As well as providing NBA prop bets such as the first basket picks featured above for Friday, Dimers also provides a detailed list of NBA prop trends to help your basketball bets every day. These NBA trends will tell you how often players are hitting certain prop lines, with numbers for each and every NBA matchup on May 19, 2023.