As we get ever close to the conference finals, the NBA continues to run out their doubleheader of games. First on the docket on Tuesday is the Pacers looking to close out the top-seeded Cavaliers. Following that, the tie between the Thunder and the Nuggets will get broken. While we’re interested in the outcomes for the game, we’re even more invested in the first buckets. That’s right, we’re putting together NBA first bucket props for May 13 just for you.
We’ve run the data, we’ve look at the trends – now, come check out our first bucket props for May 13.
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NBA First Bucket Props – May 13
Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Tipoff – 7:00 pm EST
Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH
Broadcast – TNT
Although the Cavaliers are facing elimination in the series, they’ve begun to look good in the early game action. They won the tip again last game to even the series in that category – although a bad turnover did concede the first bucket. With that game, they have now split the tips and the first buckets in this series. The Cavaliers were the best team in the league during the regular season in those stats. Now at home in this one, I expect them to get on the board first again Tuesday. You can get them to score the first point at -155.
If we’re getting greedy and looking for the individual player, I’m going to look to Max Strus. He took the first shot for them in Game 4. He also got the first bucket in Game 3. Both of those efforts were three-pointers, which it seems like they’re looking for out of the gate. I can’t imagine that changes in a must win game at home, so that’ll put him in a great place to repeat the effort.
First Bucket Bet for May 13: Max Strus (+750)
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tipoff – 9:30 pm EST
Chase Center – Oklahoma City, OK
Broadcast – TNT
On the regular season, Chet Holmgren won 60.0% of his tips. On the other side, Nikola Jokic came up just short of league average. While the advantage is clearly there for Holmgren, it isn’t by all that much. Meanwhile, he’s won three of the four tips that have come in this series. I think it’s time for a bit of a regression to the means given the stats we have. With tip winners scoring first 65.7% of the time, a win here from Jokic would put the Nuggets in great position to have the first score in this one.
For an individual player in this one, I want to go down ballot a bit. Aaron Gordon is a name that has been showing up a lot in the early shot log late in this series. He took one of the first three shots in Game 4 and took two of the first three in the game prior. We’ve also seen an uptick in the amount of three-pointers he’s throwing up with 13 taken in the last two games. That should get him an early look either from deep or cutting to the hoop.
First Bucket Bet for May 13: Aaron Gordon (+900)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for May 13, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
