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 February 12. 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 February 12.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Scorer Props – February 12
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON
Broadcast – NBA TV
The Cavaliers are the best team in the league when it comes to winning the tip. They’ve gotten the first possession in 84.9% of all of their games. Additionally, they are in the top five in first bucket success rate. While the Raptors are tied with them in terms of the latter metric, they are handicapped a bit on Wednesday. Jakob Poeltl is likely out for his fifth straight game, which leaves Jonathan Mogbo to take the tip. He’s won just one of the six tips that he’s taken this year, which gives me all the reason to like the Cavaliers at -175.
There is really only one place to look for the first bucket play for today. The Cavaliers have seen the same player take the first shot in four straight games – Evan Mobley. With volume like that, you have to ride the hot hand – even if it is a little chalky. It also shouldn’t hurt that the Raptors’ frontcourt is all banged up.
First Scorer Bet for February 12: Evan Mobley (+400)
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls
Tipoff – 8:00 pm EST
United Center – Chicago, IL
Broadcast – NBA TV
Another day – another Bulls fade opportunity. The Chicago Bulls are terrible on all the metrics that best indicate who is scoring first. They rank dead last in first bucket success rate at just 28.3% on the year. They also rank last in tip win percentage, which is at just 15.1%. With the tip winner getting roughly 66.4% of all first buckets, that would already be enough to tail the Pistons. Put on top of that that the Pistons beat them on the tip and scored first last night. With the Pistons at -160, which is less than last night, that’s a steal.
Last night we went with Ausar Thompson to score the first bucket. He was again featured in the first three shots for the Cavaliers, but scored second instead of first. With a number nearing four-figures, we don’t want to get off the train yet. We’ll ride that play for one more night here against the Bulls.
First Scorer Bet for February 12: Ausar Thompson (+850)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first scorer bets for February 12, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
