The NBA has five games on the schedule for Monday night, tipping off the week with several star-studded contests. With five games on the scoreboard, 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 longshot plays this Monday.
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First Scorer: Nolan Traore, Brooklyn Nets vs. Memphis Grizzlies (+640)
The Nets host the Grizzlies in a matchup full of bargain options in the starting lineup for both teams. Over the last 30 games, the Nets have won 50% of their tip-offs while the Grizzlies have only won 30%. In the last 15 games, they’ve only won the tip-off two times. Only Jaylen Wells has made more than one first basket in their starting lineup.
If the Nets win the tip, one longshot play I like for first scorer is rookie Nolan Traore, who has been picking up more work in place of another rookie, Egor Demin. Traore is still a month shy of his 20th birthday but has flashed good upside, averaging 12.6 points on 11.1 field-goal attempts per game in his last 14 contests, all starts.
He didn’t play much on Saturday due to foul trouble as the Nets knocked off the Pistons. He should be rested and ready for Monday’s matchup, which is a matchup he should be able to be aggressive and productive in right from the jump. He’s only made one first basket this season, but that did come recently while he’s been filling in for Demin.
First Scorer: Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors (+620)
Let’s go with another rookie for the second option in my first scorer props for this Monday. The Jazz have struggled this season and seem to be doing all they can to increase their lottery odds in the NBA Draft rather than prioritizing winning right now. In the midst of all their issues, though, they have been very good at winning tip-offs. They’ve won 59.4% of tips this season and 65.6% of tip-offs at home. The Warriors have the lowest tip-off win percentage for the season at 42.9% of tip-offs this season and 29.0% of tip-offs as the visitor.
The Jazz have been giving their top draft pick, Ace Bailey, plenty of opportunities and playing time over the last few months to let him learn on the job. Bailey has made the first basket in five games this season (11.1% of his starts), and he has taken the first shot in 20% of those games.
He took the team’s first shot on Saturday and has taken the team’s first shot in three of its last six games. He made the first basket six games ago against the Pelicans.
His team has a strong chance to win the tip, and he’s been taking so many early shots, which makes him an excellent value longshot play to get the first points on Monday.
