Some people like to sweat out a bet for 48 hard minutes – others like immediate satisfaction. Count us as being in the latter, which is why we like to get down with NBA first FG props. And we’ve decided to pass that knowledge on to you with our first FG bets for January 24. Go here for NBA Championship odds.
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 January 24.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First FG Props – January 24
Charlotte Hornets vs. Detroit Pistons
Tipoff – 7:00 pm EST
Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, Michigan
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
The Hornets rank 28th in the NBA in acquiring the first bucket. They are one of just four teams that have a success rate of under 40% on the year. They’re a touch better on the tipoff, with a 43.9% win rate (good for 22nd in the league). However, the stats make them look like an auto-fade squad.
It won’t help that they’re up against the Pistons. Despite the fact that the team has been putrid on the season, their early game stats are actually quite good. They’re 4th in the league in first buckets (60.5%) and 9th in the league on the tip (55.8%). Also, they are even better when Jalen Duren is on the tip with his 59.3% win rate.
So while leaning with the Pistons, we have to narrow down the likely candidates to grab that bucket. The last two guys to score first buckets on the Hornets were Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns. Apart from both recently having historic games, what they have in common is that they’re big men. Why not ride with Detroit’s answer to that as well.
First FG Bet for January 24: Jalen Duren (+550)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards
Tipoff – 7:00 pm EST
Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
Neither of these teams are much to write home about on the early game data. Both fall in the bottom third of the league in tipoff percentage and in first field goals. The difference maker for me has to be the recent run. Rudy Gobert has stepped up his work as the tip guy. Despite their low percentage on the year, they’ve won three of their last five tips and first buckets. The Wizards have had different guys on the tip lately and have lost each of their last two.
If we’re riding with the Timberwolves, we could obviously look to the chalk and take Karl-Anthony Towns fresh off his big game. However, let me offer a contrarian play. Jaden McDaniels has taken one of the first three shots in two of the last three games. He also had two of the first three in one of those games. With that kind of early action and the big odds, he’s worth a stab.
First FG Bet for January 24: Jaden McDaniels (+600)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first FG bets for January 24, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.