NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Saturday 11/18/2023

We have another action-packed day of professional hoops upon us, and we've simulated every matchup 10,000 times to find the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Saturday, November 18, 2023.

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

The top sportsbooks offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, but pinpointing where the best value lies can be puzzling. That's where Dimers.com's trusted approach comes into play.

Saturday's NBA slate features big names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Desmond Bane, and Bam Adebayo, each with a high probability of scoring first when they take to the court.

This article will provide you with a list of players that our analytics 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 18.

MORE: Every NBA Game Simulated 10,000 Times

Best First Basket Picks Tonight: Saturday 11/18/2023

After simulating the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Saturday.

1. Kyrie Irving To Score First Basket (+850)

• Odds: +850 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 2.4%
• Probability: 13%
• Game: Mavericks vs. Bucks (8:00PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate, which is in the game between the Mavericks and Bucks. The bet is on Kyrie Irving (DAL) at odds of +850 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 2.4%.

The next two recommended bets are for Stephen Curry (1.3% edge) to score first in the Thunder vs. Warriors game and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (0.4%) to score the first basket, also in the Thunder-Warriors matchup.

2. Stephen Curry To Score First Basket (+650)

• Odds: +650 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 1.3%
• Probability: 14.6%
• Matchup: Thunder vs. Warriors (8:30PM EST)

The next best NBA first basket bet for today comes in the Thunder vs. Warriors game, where our model has found an edge of 1.3% on Stephen Curry (GSW) at odds of +650 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Score First Basket (+600)

• Odds: +600 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.4%
• Probability: 14.6%
• Game: Thunder vs. Warriors (8:30PM EST)

Our next NBA first basket bet on Saturday comes in the Thunder vs. Warriors game, where our model has found an edge of 0.4% on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) at odds of +600 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA First Basket Predictions: Saturday, November 18, 2023

In addition to providing you with the best NBA first basket bets today, Dimers.com has also found the most likely players to score the first basket across all of Saturday's games.

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 18.6%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Desmond Bane, with a 16.7% probability, and Bam Adebayo, with a 15.0% probability.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight: November 18, 2023

Thanks to simulating each one of Saturday'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
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)	18.6%
Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)	16.7%
Bam Adebayo (Heat)	15.0%
Stephen Curry (Warriors)	14.6%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	14.6%
Luka Doncic (Mavericks)	14.0%
Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)	13.0%
Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)	12.8%
Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)	12.7%
Jimmy Butler (Heat)	12.4%

Keep in mind that this list only shows the players most likely to score the first basket on Saturday, which does not necessarily indicate 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

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.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: November 18, 2023

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks and predictions for Saturday, November 18, have been generated thanks to thousands of 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 picks for sports betting, it's vital that you gamble responsibly and manage your finances 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 NBA on Dimers

After taking in our NBA first basket props, you're definitely going to want to check out the rest of Dimers' NBA prop picks for today.

Here, we have predictions for player points, rebounds, assists, 3-pointers, and more! Plus, with the ability to filter which of Saturday's NBA games you want props for, there's no shortage of options when it comes to parlays and same-game parlays for today's basketball action.