NBA First Basket Predictions Today - Thursday 5/4/23

We have another exciting day of NBA Playoffs ahead of us, and we've run thousands of simulations to find the best NBA first basket picks for you on Thursday May 4, 2023.

NBA first basket props are one of the most popular options for sports bettors to wager on, and by using Thursday's projections below, you can gain an edge over everyone else.

All of the top online sportsbooks across the country offer odds on NBA first basket scorers, and by utilizing our cutting-edge machine learning and data, Dimers.com has been able to identify where to find the best value on Thursday 5/4.

Thursday's NBA Playoffs action is set to feature players such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Klay Thompson, each with a high chance of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

This article will provide you with a list of players that our predictive 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 May 4.

MORE: Every NBA Game Simulated 10,000 Times

Best NBA First Basket Scorer Prop Bets - Thursday 5/4/23

Having simulated today's NBA Playoffs action thousands of times, our independent predictive analytics model, DimersBOT, has discovered the best NBA first basket bets for you to make on Thursday.

Stephen Curry To Score First Basket (+700)

• Odds: +700 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 2.5%
• Probability: 15%
• Game: Lakers vs. Warriors (9:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for Thursday, which is in the game between the Lakers and Warriors. The bet is on Stephen Curry (GSW) at odds of +700 with FanDuel Sportsbook, and our model has found an edge of 2.5%.

The next two recommended plays are for D'Angelo Russell (1.1% edge) to score first in the Lakers vs. Warriors game, and Draymond Green (0.6%) to score the first basket, also in the Lakers-Warriors matchup.

D'Angelo Russell To Score First Basket (+950)

• Odds: +950 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 1.1%
• Probability: 10.6%
• Game: Lakers vs. Warriors (9:00PM ET)

The next best NBA first basket bet for Thursday comes in the Lakers vs. Warriors game, where our model has found an edge of 1.1% on D'Angelo Russell (LAL) at odds of +950 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Draymond Green To Score First Basket (+2000)

• Odds: +2000 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.6%
• Probability: 5.4%
• Matchup: Lakers vs. Warriors (9:00PM ET)

Our next best NBA first basket bet today comes in the Lakers vs. Warriors game, where our model has found an edge of 0.6% on Draymond Green (GSW) at odds of +2000 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Austin Reaves To Score First Basket (+1200)

• Odds: +1200 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.5%
• Probability: 8.2%
• Game: Lakers vs. Warriors (9:00PM ET)

Our next best first basket bet for Thursday's NBA action comes in the Lakers vs. Warriors game, where our model has found an edge of 0.5% on Austin Reaves (LAL) at odds of +1200 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Jarred Vanderbilt To Score First Basket (+1400)

• Odds: +1400 via FanDuel Sportsbook
• Edge: 0.1%
• Probability: 8.2%
• Game: Lakers vs. Warriors (9:00PM ET)

Rounding out Dimers' top five NBA first basket bets for Thursday is Jarred Vanderbilt (+LAL) at odds of +1400 in the Lakers vs. Warriors game. Here, our model has found an edge of 0.1% with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today's NBA First Basket Predictions - Thursday May 4, 2023

As well as presenting the best NBA first basket bets today, we have also determined the most likely players to score the first basket on Thursday.

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket today is Stephen Curry, with a probability of 15.0%.

Additionally, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are LeBron James, with a 13.3% probability, and Klay Thompson, with a 11.2% probability.

NBA First Basket Scorer Predictions Today - May 4, 2023

• Stephen Curry (GSW): 15.0% probability
• LeBron James (LAL): 13.3% probability
• Klay Thompson (GSW): 11.2% probability
• Anthony Davis (LAL): 11.1% probability
• D'Angelo Russell (LAL): 10.6% probability
• Andrew Wiggins (GSW): 10.3% probability
• JaMychal Green (GSW): 8.2% probability
• Austin Reaves (LAL): 8.2% probability
• Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL): 6.8% probability
• Draymond Green (GSW): 5.4% probability

Keep in mind that this list only shows the players most likely to score the first basket on Thursday, which does not necessarily indicate that our model, DimersBOT, recommends betting on them.

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

MORE: NBA Props - Thursday May 4, 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 4, 2023

All of Dimers' NBA first basket predictions for Thursday May 4 are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations per matchup, providing reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

If you use today's NBA first basket predictions for sports betting, it's important 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 on NBA

Now you've got the 411 on today's NBA first basket predictions, check out the best betting coverage for all NBA games on Dimers' NBA Predictions page. There you can find probabilities and odds, and our best bets for every single NBA matchup.