The NBA has six games on the scoreboard this Wednesday, with several marquee midweek matchups. With a dozen teams taking the floor, DraftKings Sportsbook has plenty of ways to get involved in the many basketball betting markets. One of the most popular markets lately has been the first point props available for each game.
First point plays are all over the most-bet player props, and they can be a great way to get a quick-hitter that delivers a win or loss right away without a long sweat. 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 a very simple market, since it’s just a matter of which player will score the first point in the game. Not much explanation needed!
Let’s take a look at two of the first scorer props that make sense to consider as long shot plays this Wednesday.
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First Scorer: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz (+340)
These odds are actually some of the shortest in the first point market for the slate, but at +340, they’re still plenty juicy. Maxey has scored the first point in eight of his 56 games this season (14.3%), including three of his last 12 starts (25%).
The Sixers have won the tip in 54.1% of their games this season, but the Jazz have also been winning a lot of tip-offs, especially lately with Kyle Filipowski at center. Still, even if the 76ers lose the tip-off, there’s a chance that Maxey will get a chance to score the first point. He has a team-high 29.9% usage rate this season, and his usage jumps to 32.1% in the 19 games he has played without Joel Embiid (oblique) and Paul George (suspension).
In a smash spot at home against the Jazz, it’s a good matchup for Maxey to attack. He has been scoring the first basket enough recently to make him a strong play at this price on Wednesday.
First Scorer: Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks (+660)
The Hawks have become Jalen Johnson’s team this season, especially with the trade of Trae Young. Johnson has a 27.1% usage rate on the season, but he has only been the first point scorer in four of his 55 games (7.3%).
However, he has been more aggressive off the jump recently. He’s had the first points in two of his last four games.
The Bucks win the tip only 26.7% of the time this season, by far the lowest percentage of any team on this slate, while the Hawks win 51.6% of their tip-offs. If they can get another tip win on Wednesday, Johnson has a good shot at delivering a big win in the second game of ESPN’s doubleheader.
