The NBA has 10 games on the scoreboard this Monday night, with plenty of great matchups to consider getting a piece of on a handful of games on DraftKings Sportsbook. A wide variety of markets are available for every matchup, and one of the most popular markets lately has been the first point props market.
First point plays are all over the most-bet player props each day on DraftKings Sportsbook, and they can be a great way to get a quick-hitter that delivers a win or loss right away without a long sweat. This style of bet helps avoid issues with load management and blowouts late in games, since only the first bucket matters. Finding the first scorer in any contest is a hit that can bring big-time returns, as the odds are all long shots.
As a whole, it’s an extremely simple market, since it’s just a matter of which player will score the first point in the game. Not much explanation needed!
I hit one of my first scorer props on Saturday, with LaMelo Ball delivering at +600. On Sunday, my picks stayed hot, going 2-for-2 with Maxime Raynaud scoring the first bucket at +466 and Jalen Green getting the first score of the game and hitting at +700 in the late game. Let’s try to keep it rolling with a look at a couple of first scorer props that make sense to consider this Monday.
thu
First Scorer: Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers (+740)
The Magic host the Pacers in one of Monday’s 7:00 p.m. ET start times. Carter missed a game last week but was back on Saturday, scoring 13 points to go with nine rebounds in 29 minutes against the Lakers.
Carter has scored the first basket 10 times this season, more than any other player in the starting lineup for either team. He has scored the first bucket in two of his last six games.
The Magic have done a great job winning the tip-off lately, which is another factor to consider when picking a first-point scorer. Over their last 15 games, the Magic have won 73.3% of tip-offs, while the Pacers have only won 40% in their last 15. With Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero keeping his odds elevated, Carter is a nice long shot option that brings great value against the Pacers, who listed almost everyone on their roster as questionable for the contest.
First Scorer: Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers (+580)
While he isn’t usually one of the team’s top scorers, Airplane Mode likes to take flight early and has made five first baskets in the last 15 games. He has started 21 straight games for the Clippers, playing 30.7 minutes per game.
The Clippers should have the advantage on the tip-off. Over the last 15 games, the Clippers have won nine of 15 tip-offs, while the Bucks have only won four tip-offs during that span.
In their last 15 games, the Clippers have scored the first basket nine times, and Jones takes the first shot more often than any other member of his team at 20% and has made more first buckets than any other player on his team as well.
Since the Bucks have been losing the tip-off so often, the Clippers should have a good chance to get the first shot, and Jones is a nice sleeper play to consider for the first basket props in the late game on Monday night.
