The Eastern Conference finals tip off in Beantown tonight with the Boston Celtics hosting the Indiana Pacers.
A Game 1 victory gives the winner the inside track to the NBA Finals, and it all starts with the first basket – a popular NBA prop market that delivers a thrilling, quick-hitting wagering option.
I rundown the NBA odds to score the first basket between the Pacers and Celtics and give my NBA picks for both teams on Tuesday, May 21.
For more coverage of the ECF, check out our Pacers vs. Celtics predictions and NBA props.
First Basket odds
- Jaylen Brown (+440)
- Jayson Tatum (+470)
- Myles Turner (+700)
- Pascal Siakam (+800)
- Al Horford (+850)
- Andrew Nembhard (+950)
- Jrue Holiday (+1,000)
- Aaron Nesmith (+1,200)
All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on 5/21/24
Boston Celtics
Player To Score First Basket of Game: Jrue Holiday (+1,000 at Fanduel)
The Boston Celtics’ big guns obviously top this odds board, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum the two favorites to strike first. But if we look at the playoffs, Jrue Holiday has been very active in the opening possessions.
Jrue Holiday has attempted the first shot of the game four times and recorded the first basket twice in the Celtics’ 10 contests this postseason. This comes on the heels of a regular season in which the veteran guard attempted the first shot in 16.7% of outings – second on the team behind Brown. Holiday, however, only made a total of six of those opening shots.
Given he’s still getting a lot of opening looks in the postseason and Boston wins close to 70% of tipoffs on the year, Holiday’s a very live flyer to score the first basketball at +1,000 in Game 1.
Best NBA bonuses
All Users
Instant payout for NBA moneylines
If your team goes up by 20! Claim Now
See our bet365 sportsbook review
New Users
Get a no-sweat first bet
Up to $1,500! Claim Now
See our BetMGM sportsbook review
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Indiana Pacers
Player to Score First Basket of Game: Pascal Siakam (+800 at FanDuel)
Indiana’s odds of scoring the first basket are a bit bigger due to the Celtics’ success in opening tips and the Pacers earning the first possession at just a 38% clip on the season.
Myles Turner has been the most active opening scorer for Indiana on the year (15.6%) but that role has been spread around in the playoffs, with Turner striking first just twice in the 13 tournament games.
Pascal Siakam has looked to strike off the opening tip, attempting the team’s first shot in four of those 13 contests and scoring the Pacers’ first bucket three times in the playoffs. He was traded to Indiana in mid-January and in his 54 games as a starter, Siakam has attempted the first shot in 7.4% off those showing while scoring the first basket six times – an 11% clip according to BettingPros.
