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 27. 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 27.
Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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NBA First Bucket Props – April 27
New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
Tipoff – 1:00 pm EST
Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
Broadcast – ABC
The Pistons were one of the better teams when it came to scoring the first bucket during the regular season. They ranked third with a 59.0% success rate in that metric. It could have been far higher had they not been a below average team when it comes to winning the tip. Luckily for them, they have a team across from them that is even worse on the tip. They hold a 2.5% advantage over the Knicks when it comes to winning the tip. Having won two out of three tips in this series and scoring first at that same rate, I like the Pistons to keep up the early scoring. You can get them to score the first bucket at -125.
When it comes to scoring the first bucket, one player has had all the chances for the Pistons, but has yet to deliver. Tim Hardaway Jr. has taken their first shot in all three games of this series. Each of those shots have come with an empty scoreboard and a chance to be the first scorer. While none of them have worked out for him, you have to imagine the volume will help him come through here.
First Bucket Bet for April 27: Tim Hardaway Jr. (+900)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Tipoff – 3:30 pm EST
Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
Broadcast – ABC
The Lakers were one of the top five teams in the league when it comes to scoring first. That number started much lower early in the season, but catapaulted when Jaxson Hayes started consistently taking the tips following the Anthony Davis trade. His high percentage of grabbing the first possession help jumped them right up the rankings. Although Rudy Gobert is a solid tipper, Hayes has a 3.8% advantage on him. Hayes has won all three tips in this series and the Lakers have scored first in two of three. As a result, I love the line for that trend to continue at -115.
To perhaps nobody’s surprise, LeBron James and Luka Doncic are taking the bulk of the early shots for the Lakers. If you take the first three shots in each game in the series, those two account for 44.4% of the total. However, neither has a first bucket to show for it. I say they break that here and one scores early. Doncic has been more of the force on offense in this series, so we’ll play his number.
First Bucket Bet for April 27: Luka Doncic (+600)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for April 27, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
