NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Back Jayson Tatum, Derrick White in Heat vs Celtics (May 25)

NBA First Basket will break down some of his favorite NBA plays of the day here, and will track all his bets in The Action Network app.

Heat vs.

Celtics

NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Jayson Tatum, Derrick White

Heat vs. Celtics First Basket Prop Data

The Boston Celtics will host Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night against the Miami Heat. Al Horford (42% opening tip win rate) will go up against Bam Adebayo (54% win rate) for the opening tip-off. Horford has won three of five opening tips versus Adebayo this season.

These teams have played each other eight times this season and Boston has scored first in five of those games. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and Horford have all cashed first basket tickets for the Celtics, while Adebayo (twice) and Kevin Love have cashed first baskets for the Heat.

I like Boston to score first in this one. Tatum seems highly likely to get an early shot off for the Celtics. Tatum and Brown have each scored the first team field goal for the Celtics six times in Boston's 17 postseason games. Tatum has been the more effective player, so I'll back him Thursday night and I'll pair him with White.

The Picks:

BetMGM: Derrick White 1st Field Goal (+1100) | Risk 0.25 Units, Play to +850

FanDuel: Jayson Tatum 1st Basket (+390) | Risk 0.75 Units, Play to +360

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