Saturday’s NBA calendar presents only five games and tips at 5 pm et with Nets vs. PACERS Indiana is a favorite of 13 points in the last chances of the NBA in Fanduel Sportsbook. One of the most popular NBA support bets is the first basket scorer, and in a confrontation like Nets vs. Pacers, where there is no dominant scorer, there are many viable options. Keon Johnson (+600) is the favorite, but eight other players are likely between +650 and +950. Jimmy Butler (+500) in Warriors vs. Hawks and Giannis Antetokounmpo (+410) in Bucks vs. Kings are two of the big names favored to score the first basket in their respective games.
The expert disability of Sportsline, Jimmie Kaylor, broken down the probabilities of the NBA for each game on Saturday and has locked in three bets of accessories of basket scorers. Kaylor is a Handicap and Pro of DFS for Sportsline that won a Millionaire draftkings contest in 2022 and also has multiple victories in five -digit tournament in its DFS curriculum. Here are Kaylor’s first three scoring bets for Saturday.
Mikal Bridges (+550 in Fanduel) in Knicks vs. Wizards
The Knicks have obtained the first 31 baskets this season, and Bridges has contributed 10 of them. New York is winning 43.5% of the opening tips, but will face a Washington team that has seen a similar success rate (44.9%). Bridges averages 17.6 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds in its first season with the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is the light favorite to first score in the game with +470, but Kaylor loves the value of the bridges in the slightly higher price of +550 in Fanduel Sportsbook.
LeBron James (+700 in Fanduel) in Lakers vs. Bulls
James officially figure as questionable (groin), but the top scorer of all NBA time is expected to be in action when the Lakers face the Bulls in Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles are currently winning 62.3% of the opening tips, and the Lakers have scored the first basket in 41 games this season. James has scored six of those first baskets, and averages 25.0, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game this season.
Jimmy Butler (+490 in Fanduel) in Warriors vs. Hawks
Butler has tried the first shot in five of its 18 games as a member of the Golden State Warriors. With Stephen Curry (pelvic contusion) marginalized, the probability that Butler tries the shot of the Warriors on Saturday increases drastically. Butler averages 17.2 points, 6.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game since he joined Golden State.
Do you want more NBA selections for Saturday?
The Sportsline model is in a roll of 151-111 in all the best qualified NBA selections dating from last season. Visit Sportsline to get all your NBA selections for Saturday.
