Of course, there are plenty out there taking blind guesses at this stuff. It’s easy to pick the most popular player or look at what happened in the last game. However, we spent the time pouring through the analytics to make sure that we give you the best odds to stay in the green on these first FG props for December 21.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First FG Props – December 21
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tipoff – 8:00 pm EST
Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
The Magic have been our favorite fade target for the year when it comes to early game statistics. That can largely be attributed to the fact that Goga Bitadze went 3-17 on the tips. However, his time in the middle has come to an end and Wendell Carter Jr. is back. Despite losing the tip in his return, he still is nabbing tips at a 66.7% clip, which exceeds what we see from the Bucks and Brook Lopez. Add in that the two teams had almost the same numbers on the first field goals despite the Magic’s tip troubles and this should clearly go to Orlando.
The Magic have 11 first buckets on the year, – one of which belongs to a guy who won’t be in the starting lineup on Thursday. Of the remaining 10, Jalen Suggs has four of them. He’s not only a guy getting a lot of early shots, but he’s shooting from a high percentage everywhere.
First FG Bet for December 21: Jalen Suggs (+750)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tipoff – 8:00 pm EST
Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
The Clippers continue to be one of the worst teams in the league on the jump and on the first bucket. They’re getting each at roughly a 37.0% rate on the year, which puts them in the bottom third of the league. Meanwhile, nobody is winning more tips than Chet Holmgren and the Thunder. They have won 72.0% of the jumps on the year. With the tip winner getting about two-thirds of the first buckets across the league, the Thunder have a huge advanatge.
Josh Giddey has taken one of the first three shots for the Thunder in each of the last five games – and he took the fourth in the game before that. They seem like they are trying to get him involved earlier each game. Let’s use that to our advantage and cash with him here.
First FG Bet for December 21: Josh Giddey (+600)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first FG bets for December 21, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
