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 15. 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 15.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – April 15
Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Kia Center – Orlando, FL
Broadcast – TNT
The early bucket numbers for this one are tight. On one hand, the Hawks have all the advantages when it comes to the season long numbers, but perhaps don’t have all the advantages here. For instance, Wendell Carter Jr. should be taking the tip, and when he’s healthy, he does wonders for the Magic’s numbers. He has a better tip win rate that the Hawks as a team or personally over Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks meanwhile have an advantage on the yearlong first bucket success rate by a 9.7%. With tip winners getting 65.7% of the first buckets on the year, I do think the advantage though leans to the Magic. We’ll take them to get on the board first in this one.
One name that I’m interested in terms of players to get the first bucket is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. KCP has been one of the better first bucket scorers for the Magic this year – nabbing six of them on the season. Additionally, he took one of their first two shots in two of their last three games this year. Some of that was with a mixed bag lineup, but he should still get an early look here too.
First Bucket Bet for April 15: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (+750)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
Tipoff – 10:00 pm EST
Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
Broadcast – TNT
There are much more straight forward numbers when it comes to the first bucket in San Francisco on Tuesday. The Grizzlies are second in the league in scoring first in the game. They’re doing so at a 59.7% clip, which puts them 17.4% ahead of the Warriors. Similarly on the tip, the Grizzlies rank third in the league in that metric. Their 68.8% comes in 27.8% better than Golden State. With those clear leads, you have to be on Memphis’ side for this one.
Zach Edey hasn’t been a first bucket force this year, but the Warriors seem to have a big man problem. They don’t particularly have enough guys to counter the fact that the Grizzlies basically come at you with two guys who play like centers in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. If you’re going to go softer on one of those two, I expect Edey to get the easier look. As long as the Grizzlies are looking in the right spots for this bucket, an Edey dunk seems like what we have cued up.
First Bucket Bet for April 15: Zach Edey (+700)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for April 15, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
