NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Target Cavaliers Duo vs. Clippers (November 7)

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.

Cavaliers vs.

Clippers

Donovan Mitchell | Evan Mobley

The Los Angeles Clippers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of a jam-packed Monday night schedule in the NBA. Jarrett Allen (66% opening-tip win rate) will be jumping at center against Ivica Zubac (35% win rate). These two faced off against each other once last year, with Zubac winning the tip.

The Cavs were above-average at scoring first last season, converting the first points 56% of the time. They have not continued that trend this season, as they are converting the first points just 33% of the time.

The Clippers scored first at a rate of 50% last season, but have really struggled to score first this season, as they have only done so in one of their 10 games (tied for last in the league with the Detroit Pistons).

Both teams are extremely inefficient — averaging more than 2.5 field goal attempts to make their first field goal this season.  More importantly, the Clippers have been unsuccessful at scoring first as they are allowing the opposing team to score the first field goal after just 1.6 field goal attempts.

The Cavaliers scored first in one of the two matchups last season with the Clippers. In both games, Evan Mobley scored the first team field goal for the Cavs. Mobley is coming off his worst game of the season, having scored just four points in Sunday's contest versus the Lakers. For that reason I like the Cavs to get him involved early in the game tonight.

Donovan Mitchell has been the leading scorer for the Cavs this season and has also been involved early in most games this season. Mitchell has shot first in four of nine games for the Cavs and has scored the first team field goal in two of them.

I'll take Donovan Mitchell first basketprop (+650) and risk 0.5 units on FanDuel. I'm also grabbing Evan Mobley (+800) first basket and risk 0.5 units on BetRivers.

The Picks:

• Mitchell first basket +650; play down to +450
• Mobley first field goal +800; play down to +550

Cavaliers vs. Clippers First Basket Data

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