NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Value on Jaren Jackson Jr. & Steven Adams (December 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.

Thunder vs.

Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. · Steven Adams

The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the  Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday evening. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (17% opening-tip win rate) will likely be jumping at center against Steven Adams (73% win rate).

Adams has jumped against Robinson-Earl just once before, and Adams won that tip.  I would fully expect Memphis to get the first possession tonight.

Memphis has scored first a league-leading 79% of the time this season.  The Thunder have significantly struggled to win any opening tips, and as a result, have scored first only 42% of the time.

Dillon Brooks has taken the first shot most often (43% of games started) for the Grizzlies but has a tough matchup against Lu Dort tonight.

John Konchar is not typically involved in early possessions, so that leaves Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams as the most likely to take the first shot tonight.

Oklahoma City has given up the first opposing field goal this season to the center or power forward position in 54% of its games.

The Grizzlies and Thunder played early this season, and Jackson took the first Grizzlies shot and scored first with a dunk.  These teams played each other three times last season, and Jackson took the first shot in each game, scoring the first field goal in two of the three games.

For that reason, I'll take Jackson tonight and pair him with Adams to score the first basket.

The Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr. (0.8 units, +600 · Play to +450) · Steven Adams (0.4 units, +800 · Play to +650)

Thunder vs. Grizzlies First Basket Prop Data

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