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 April 6. 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 April 6.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – April 6
Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte Hornets
Tipoff – 1:00 pm EST
Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
Broadcast – NBA TV
In the afternoon game, I like the home Charlotte Hornets to get on the board first. The Bulls have been the easiest team to fade all year. They rank dead last in tip win percentage (18.4%) and in first bucket success rate (36.8%). The Hornets are well above average in both of those metrics. They rank 9th in the NBA in scoring the first basket of the game and are 16.4% better than the Bulls at that. Mark Williams is also grabbing 71.8% of all of the first possessions for his team. With a lead like that and tip winners getting 65.7% of all first buckets, you have to like the Hornets here.
If we’re getting specific on players here, I like Miles Bridges to get the first score. He has both the volume we like to see in a first bucket candidate and the matchup. The Bulls have given up a lot of their first buckets to small forwards who can shoot from the outside. In addition, Bridges has taken one of the team’s first three shots in three of their last four games. As a result, I think the value on his first bucket is solid in this one.
First Bucket Bet for April 6: Miles Bridges (+500)
Indiana Pacers vs. Denver Nuggets
Tipoff – 8:00 pm EST
Ball Arena – Denver, CO
Broadcast – NBA TV
If the Bulls are the easiest team to fade on the first bucket, the Pacers aren’t all that far behind. They rank 28th in winning the tipoff with Myles Turner winning just 26.9% of them. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic isn’t exactly setting the world on fire there either, but he’s so much better than Turner. He’s winning 48.5% of his tips, which should give Denver the much needed first possession. To clinch matters, the Nuggets are much better at making use of their possessions. They score first at the league average, which gives them a 7.9% lead over the Pacers.
For specific players in this one, I like Michael Porter Jr. to get the first hoop. He’s taken one of the first three shots in two of the last three games he played, which includes the Nuggets’ first shot in their last game. They didn’t win the tip in that one, so his shot wasn’t the first bucket, but he did make his shot. If we can replicate that here with the Nuggets winning the tip, we can cash this bet.
First Bucket Bet for April 6: Michael Porter Jr. (+700)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for April 6, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
