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 scorer props. And we’ve decided to pass that knowledge on to you with our first scorer bets for November 23. 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 scorer props for November 23.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Scorer Props – November 23
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Chicago Bulls
Tipoff – 8:00 pm EST
United Center – Chicago, IL
Broadcast – NBA TV
On the year Nikola Vucevic has taken 16 jumpballs to start the game. He’s one exactly one of those tips for the Bulls. That means that Chicago is starting with the ball in 6.3% of the games that they play. With the team that wins the tip scoring first just under 66% of the time this year – that would already be enough to get in on Memphis. However, to add to matters, they’ve been good on the early game action. Jaren Jackson has won six of the seven tips he’s taken and the Grizzlies are a top ten team in the league in terms of scoring first.
The pattern for how the Bulls allow their first score is well established. Alperen Sengun, Jaren Duran, Brook Lopez, Clint Capela – four straight games have seen the other team’s big man get on the board first. Jaren Jackson was one of the most prolific first bucket scorers in the league last year. In his seven games this year, he already has two first scores. Plus, he took the last shot in the last game that the Grizzlies played. With all of that in play, we’ll of course take him to put up the first one tonight.
First Scorer Bet for November 23: Jaren Jackson (+400)
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Tipoff – 10:30 pm EST
crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast – NBA TV
The tip numbers aren’t super clear in this one. Nikola Jokic is getting 50.0% of the tips on this year and Anthony Davis is getting a touch more at 57.1%. However, the conversion rates of these two teams are wildly different. The Nuggets have scored first in 64.3% of the games, which puts them in the top five in the NBA. On the other hand, the Lakers are scoring first just 40.0% of the time – good enough for 25th in the NBA. As a result, we’re going to trust that the Nuggets will make a better use of their first possession.
When scanning the lines for one I like for Denver, I was shocked to see Jamal Murray so far down the list. I expected him to be one of the odds on favorites. He took the first shot for the Nuggets in four of their last five games. Not only that, he took the second shot in the only game where he didn’t take the first shot. He should get the rock first in this one and I like him at better than nine-to-one to make that bucket.
First Scorer Bet for November 23: Jamal Murray (+950)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first scorer bets for November 23, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
