NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Thursday 1/18/2024

We have another big day of NBA basketball ahead of us, and we've simulated all of today's games thousands of times to find the most reliable NBA first basket predictions and odds for Thursday, January 18, 2024.

Thursday's NBA games are expected to showcase players such as Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Domantas Sabonis, each with a high chance of opening the scoring when they take to the court.

NBA first basket props are one of the more popular options for basketball bettors to wager on, and by using Thursday's data-driven NBA predictions below, you can gain an edge over other bettors.

All of the top online sportsbooks throughout the nation offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, but finding where the best value lies can be puzzling. That's where Dimers.com's trusted approach comes into play.

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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 January 18.

Best First Basket Picks Tonight: Thursday 1/18/2024

Having simulated the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has generated the best NBA first basket betting picks for Thursday.

1. Bennedict Mathurin To Score First Basket (+1100)

• Odds: +1100
• Edge: 2.9%
• Probability: 11.2%
• Game: Pacers vs. Kings (10:00PM EST)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate, which is in the game between the Pacers and Kings. The bet is on Bennedict Mathurin (IND) at odds of +1100 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 2.9%.

The next two suggested bets are for Xavier Tillman (1.4% edge) to score first in the Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves game and Anthony Edwards (0.9%) to score the first basket, also in the Grizzlies-Timberwolves matchup.

2. Xavier Tillman To Score First Basket (+1000)

• Odds: +1000
• Edge: 1.4%
• Probability: 10.5%
• Matchup: Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves (10:00PM EST)

The next best NBA first basket bet for today comes in the Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves game, where our model has found an edge of 1.4% on Xavier Tillman (MEM) at odds of +1000 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

3. Anthony Edwards To Score First Basket (+650)

• Odds: +650
• Edge: 0.9%
• Probability: 14.2%
• Game: Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves (10:00PM EST)

Our next NBA first basket bet today comes in the Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves game, where our model has found an edge of 0.9% on Anthony Edwards (MIN) at odds of +650 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

4. Keegan Murray To Score First Basket (+850)

• Odds: +850
• Edge: 0.1%
• Probability: 10.6%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Kings (10:00PM EST)

The next best first basket bet for Thursday's NBA action comes in the Pacers vs. Kings game, where our model has found an edge of 0.1% on Keegan Murray (SAC) at odds of +850 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

5. T.J. McConnell To Score First Basket (+950)

• Odds: +950
• Edge: 0.1%
• Probability: 9.6%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Kings (10:00PM EST)

Rounding out Dimers' top five NBA first basket bets for Thursday is T.J. McConnell (IND) at odds of +950 in the Pacers vs. Kings game. Here, our model has found an edge of 0.1% with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA First Basket Predictions: Thursday, January 18, 2024

As well as providing you with the best NBA first basket bets today, Dimers.com has also determined the most likely players to score the first basket across all of Thursday'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 Anthony Edwards, with a probability of 14.2%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Karl-Anthony Towns, with a 13.4% probability, and Domantas Sabonis, with a 13.0% probability.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight: January 18, 2024

Thanks to simulating each one of Thursday'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
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	14.2%
Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves)	13.4%
Domantas Sabonis (Kings)	13.0%
De'Aaron Fox (Kings)	12.0%
Myles Turner (Pacers)	11.2%
Bennedict Mathurin (Pacers)	11.2%
Keegan Murray (Kings)	10.6%
Luke Kennard (Grizzlies)	10.5%
Xavier Tillman (Grizzlies)	10.5%
T.J. McConnell (Pacers)	9.6%

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

To increase your chances of winning when betting on NBA props, it's important to look out for favorable odds.

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.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: January 18, 2024

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 January 18, 2024, and automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting. Human editing and quality control is performed to ensure the content meets our editorial standards.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks for Thursday, January 18, are based on 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 predictions for your personal gambling, it's vital that you practice responsible gambling 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.

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