NBA First Basket Prop Odds & Expert Picks: Bet Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones vs. Pacers on Monday (Dec. 26)

Pacers vs.

Pelicans

NBA First Basket Prop Odds & Picks: Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones

The Indiana Pacers travel south to New Orleans, LA to take on the Pelicans Monday night. Jonas Valanciunas (44% opening-tip win rate this season) will jump for the Pelicans and face off against Myles Turner (37% win rate). Valanciunas has won both tips versus Turner in the past two seasons.

The Pelicans score first 56% of the time, which is well above league average. In contrast, the Pacers have scored first in just 39% of their games.

Herbert Jones has taken the first team field goal attempt in 35% of his games as a Pelicans starter this season. He has scored first in a game five times — 22% of games he started.

Valanciunas has scored first eight times this season — 25% of games he has started. Surprisingly, CJ McCollum has not cashed a first basket this season despite taking the first shot in 21% of games started for the Pelicans.

That data points to to either Valanciunas, Zion Williamson or Jones to score first in this matchup.

I'll take Valanciunas and Jones tonight.

NBA First Basket Picks:

• Herb Jones +950 (play to +650) ⋅ 0.5 units
• Jonas Valanciunas +480 (play to +350) • 0.6 units

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