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 29. 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 29.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First FG Props – January 29
Utah Jazz vs. Brooklyn Nets
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, New York
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
The Nets are far from world-beaters when it comes to the early data. They come in at 20th in the league on the first field goal and a much better 11th in the league on the tip. Given numbers that are right around 50%, there isn’t usually a reason to rush to play the Nets on first scores. However, their opponent here gives you plenty of reason.
The Jazz are dead last in the NBA in first buckets at just 31.9%. They aren’t much better on the tip. They’ve had a rotating door of jumpers and none of them have been that good. They have combined for a 36.2% average, which puts them in 25th in the league.
Nix Claxton is the obvious play here. He has six of the last eight first buckets for the Nets. However, that run can’t continue for the whole season – so I’m looking outside of the obvious. Only one player on the Nets has taken a shot in their first three attempts in each of the last three games. That person is Mikal Bridges, who already has six first field goals on the year. Let’s get him back in action here.
First FG Bet for January 29: Mikal Bridges (+700)
Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks
Tipoff – 8:30 pm EST
American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas
Broadcast – NBA League Pass
The Mavericks are one of just two teams on the year that have scored the first bucket 30 times (with the Raptors being the other). They’re getting the first score at a 65.2% clip, which is wild considering they haven’t been that good on the jumpball. However, despite having under a 50% tipoff average, they’ll have a huge advantage here. The Magic are 29th in the league with a 28.3% tip average. Between that and the ability to score first even when they don’t win the tip, this should be an easy one for the Mavericks.
Since Kyrie Irivng went down, the path to the first bucket has gone through one person in Dallas – Grant Williams. He has half of their first field goals in the run since Kyrie went down and has been shooting far more often. The increased frequency might reduce the number a bit, but there’s still value there on Monday.
First FG Bet for January 29: Grant Williams (+1200)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first FG bets for January 29, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.