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 7. 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 7.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – April 7
Sacramento Kings vs. Detroit Pistons
Tipoff – 7:00 pm EST
Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
Broadcast – NBA TV
The Pistons are an amomaly when it comes to the first bucket. While they are below average in winning tips, they still rank 2nd in the league when it comes to scoring first. With the tip winner getting 65.7% of the first buckets on the year, that’s a rarity. However, what makes them even more of a sure thing on Monday is that they have a tip advantage in this one. The Kings are 27th in the league when it comes to winning the tip and are 11.8% behind the Pistons in that metric. Add in that they are also 28th in the league when it comes to scoring first and the Pistons should be on the board first.
If we’re getting greedy and going with an individual player for Monday’s action, I like Ausar Thompson. The Pistons forward has been all over their early shot log as of late. He’s taken one of the first three shots in three of the last four games. One of those shots was also the first bucket for the team. The spot is only made more enticing by where the line hits, so we’ll go with Thompson in this one.
First Bucket Bet for April 7: Ausar Thompson (+800)
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Kaseya Center – Miami, FL
Broadcast – NBA TV
This is not one of my favorite spots in terms of first buckets over the last month or so, but there is only two games to choose from on Monday.
However, when forced to look at these metrics, I’ll go with the Heat to score first. They are scoring first less often than the 76ers on the year, but by only a meager 2.6% margin. However, the margin they lead by when it comes to the tipoff wins is wildly larger. They win the tip 62.3% of the time, which puts them in the top five in the league. Compare that to the 41.6% the 76ers are winning, and you can be assured that the Heat are at least going to get a chance here.
While we found a down ballot option in the first game, we’re going chalk in the second. Bam Adebayo is the right answer to this question for Monday. If you take the teams’ first three shots in each of the last three games, Adebayo represents 44.4% of all of those shots. Additionally, the banged up frontcourt of the 76ers should open up a chance for him to find an early dunk.
First Bucket Bet for April 7: Bam Adebayo (+400)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for April 7, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
