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 bucket props. And we’ve decided to pass that knowledge on to you with our first bucket bets for March 25. 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 bucket props for March 25.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – March 25
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Tipoff – 10:00 pm EST
Moda Center – Portland, OR
Broadcast – NBA TV
Rather than relying on fades as we do sometimes, we’re hitting all the best teams to tail on Tuesday. The Cavaliers are certainly at the top of that list. Jarrett Allen is the best in the league at grabbing the opening tipoff. He’s got the Cavaliers winning the tip at a 80.3% clip. With the tip winner getting 65.6% of the first buckets, that’s already a hug lead. Then we add in that they’re also number one at finishing the first buckets and hold a 24.5% lead over the 29th place Blazers in that category. Even with a -200 number next to their name to score first, I still am playing the Cavaliers in this one.
If we’re getting cute and looking for a specific player to get on the board early, we don’t need to look any further than Evan Mobley. While he is the pure chalk play here, the volume he’s gotten early in games is too much to overlook. If you take the Cavaliers’ first three shots in each of the last three games, Mobley represents 55.6% of all of those shots. The Blazers also play a rookie down on the block and with two bigs, it should be easier for Mobley to get that close attempt for the first bucket.
First Bucket Bet for March 25: Evan Mobley (+400)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz
Tipoff – 9:00 pm EST
Delta Center – Salt Lake City, UT
Broadcast – NBA TV
The other team that I am, of course, tailing on Tuesday is the Grizzlies. They are just behind the Cavaliers in terms of the big metrics that indicate first bucket success. They’re third in tipoff win percentage with a 71.4% average. They’re also second in scoring the rock first. They’re nearly 13 percentage points ahead of the Jazz in both of those areas. Given those leads and the fact that they’re already one of the best, I would assume we’ll get a Memphis score to start. Additionally, at -165, I think there is a lot of value to be had.
While we liked chalk up top when looking for a player, I’m going a bit down ballot in this one. While Jaren Jackson Jr. gets a lot of early work, he’s not the guy we’ve seen take two of the last three first shots for the Grizzlies. That distinction belongs to Jaylen Wells. Wells has been getting busy from deep early and despite all that action, he is still sitting with longshot odds. I think those odds are definitely worth a swing.
First Bucket Bet for March 25: Jaylen Wells (+850)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for March 25, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
