NBA Best First Basket Bets Today – April 9

It was a whirlwind Tuesday in the NBA with Nuggets head coach Michael Malone being fired. He led Denver to its only NBA Championship in 2023 and was in his 10th year as the coach.

The move shocked the league with just three games remaining on the schedule for the Nuggets as they sit in the fifth seed of the Western Conference standings at 47-32.

General manager Calvin Booth was also fired by ownership (Kroenke’s) after the team has been on a recent skid, going 3-7 in its past 10 games.

Other key news in the NBA later on Tuesday night was the Phoenix Suns missing out on the playoffs and play-in tournament despite featuring a big three of All-Stars: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Cleveland also locked in the No. 1 seed in the East ahead of the defending champion Boston Celtics after taking care of the Chicago Bulls 135-113.

We’ve provided two first basket picks below for Wednesday’s action featuring Nikola Jokic (DEN vs. SAC, 10:10 p.m. ET) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC at PHX, 10:10 p.m. ET).

Remember to bet responsibly and carefully watch your bankroll by not spending too much of it on one wager.

Note: Odds were correct at the time of writing.

Nikola Jokic (+400) at Hard Rock Bet

Jokic has done it all for the Nuggets most of this season and throughout his career. He’ll likely have to do even more on Wednesday since starting point guard Jamal Murray is listed as doubtful (right hamstring inflammation).

Now fired head coach Malone stated two days ago that Murray would hopefully be back in time for the playoffs, which casts even further doubt on his status tonight.

Murray ranked first on the Nuggets in first baskets and now moves Jokic into that slot.

The three-time NBA MVP, Jokic, is almost guaranteed to finish second this season (behind Gilgeous-Alexander) for the award and is averaging 30 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. 

According to BestOdds first basket stats, in the past five games the Serbian has started, Jokic has made one first basket (20%) and has also made the first basket for the Nuggets 40% of the time.

In his past 11 games the 2023 Finals MVP has been even more consistent, recording scoring first on Denver’s roster 45% of the time.

During that span, the Nuggets have won 57% of opening tip-offs. 

The 6-foot-11 “Joker” has a one-inch advantage over Kings’ center Domantas Sabonis (6-foot-10).

Jokic is also 2-0 against Sabonis this season when facing off in opening tip-offs.

During the Kings’ last seven outings, they’ve only won the tip 29% of the time. 

Sportsbooks feature Jokic as the favorite to win the tip against Sacramento, followed by two fellow Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. (+450) and Aaron Gordon +450). 

The first basket scorer for the Kings listed is Sabonis (+550).

Denver has scored the first field goal in 46.8% of its games this campaign compared to 43% for Sacramento.

Jokic’s odds of +400 at Hard Rock Bet are a bargain compared to the three other bookmakers offering first basket odds at the time of writing. 

Odds Comparison for Jokic First Scorer

Sportsbook	Odds
Hard Rock Bet	+400
FanDuel	+350
Caesars	+350
DraftKings	+330

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+575) at Hard Rock Bet

This year’s regular-season MVP favorite has been on an absolute tear in the first basket category.

He’s coming off a first basket last night against the Lakers and has scored four first baskets in his past 10 starts (40%).

We selected him in last week’s first-basket prediction and came up short but are going to roll with him once again.

The Canadian has scored the first basket in 12-of-76 (15.78%) outings.

Oklahoma City’s center, Chet Holmgren, holds a one-inch height advantage at 7-foot-1 over Phoenix’s Nick Richards (7-feet).

Holmgren won the tip-off yesterday for the Thunder against the Lakers’ 7-footer Jaxson Hayes.

In its past five games, OKC has won 80% of its tip-offs compared to 60% for Phoenix throughout the same span.

Despite the two teams facing each other twice this season, this will be the first time Holmgren goes against Richards for the opening tip.

Oddsmakers feature four Thunder players ahead of members of the Suns to score the first points of the contest. 

Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game and scored 50 and 28 in the previous two meetings against the Suns. 

Oklahoma City has scored the first field goal in 56.3% of games compared to 51.9% for Phoenix.

The +575 odds at Hard Rock Bet are much more valuable than at any other sportsbook. FanDuel’s +490 odds are second-best, as showcased in the table below.

Odds Comparison for Gilgeous-Alexander First Scorer

Sportsbook	Odds
Hard Rock Bet	+575
FanDuel	+490
Caesars	+380
DraftKings	+295