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 May 9.
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 May 9.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – May 9
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
Broadcast – ESPN
The tipoff statistics in this series continue to throw me off. Despite the Cavaliers being the best team in the regular season when it comes to winning the tip and having a 49.6% advantage over the Pacers in that category, the Pacers have won both of the tips in this series. Additionally, they have parlayed that into a first bucket in one of the two games as well. With the statistics being where they are, I can’t imagine this trend continuing through Game 3. I’ll take the Cavaliers to score first in this one.
If we’re going to get a little greedy and pick a player, I have to go chalk in this one. Sometimes we see a mix of who gets the early action for teams when it comes to the postseason, but that just hasn’t been true for the Cavaliers. If you take their first three shots in each of the games in this series, Donovan Mitchell accounts for half of those shots. His number isn’t huge, but I still feel like there is plenty of value on it.
First Bucket Bet for May 9: Donovan Mitchell (+400)
Oklahoma City thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
Tipoff – 10:00 pm EST
Ball Arena – Denver, CO
Broadcast – ESPN
In this series, Oklahoma City has won both of the tips. With the tip winners during the regular season getting 65.7% of the first buckets, you might think that means that they scored first in at least one of these games. However, that’s just not the case. Despite having a statistical disadvantage in finishing the first bucket on the regular season, Denver has scored first in both games so far. I expect that to change as the Thunder continues to get the first possession. I’ll take the Thunder to score first here.
Last time we wrote about this game, I was all over the volume of Luguenz Dort. I was right about him getting early looks. He took the Thunder’s first two shots in Game 2 and hit the second. However, in between the missed first and the made second, Denver got on the board, crushing our +1200 play. It’s not time to back down on our guy Dort, it’s time to double down. Give me him to get the first bucket on Friday.
First Bucket Bet for May 9: Luguenz Dort (+1000)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for May 9, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
