Sunday NBA First Basket Props: 3 Plays for Bucks vs. Celtics, Including Jaylen Brown

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.

Celtics vs. Bucks

The Bucks take on the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals Sunday afternoon. Robert Williams will be taking on Brook Lopez in the opening tip.

These two have only faced each other once over the past two seasons, back in March of 2021 when Williams controlled the tip for the Celtics. For the season, Lopez has won opening-tip offs at a higher rate than Williams.

The Celtics score first 65% of the time, which was best in the league this year, while the Bucks score first 52%. The teams have played four games against each other this year with Boston scoring first in three of the games.

Jaylen Brown has scored the first Boston field goal in two of those games (both with a 3-pointer). Brown has scored the first Celtics field goal in six of the last 10 games and cashed the first field goal more than any other player in the league during the season.

Milwaukee has been weak against opposing centers for first possessions, and Robert Williams cashed the first game field goal in 20% of games he started. It's also interesting to note that Williams scored first with dunks 69% of the time when he scored the first field goal for the Celtics this year.

I'm adding in a Bobby Portis exact method as well as a bit of insurance in case Boston doesn’t score first.

Plays

• Jaylen Brown 1st FG at PointsBet, Barstool +500 – (risk 0.7U)
• Robert Williams 1st FG at DK +900 (risk 0.3U)
• Bobby Portis Exact Method – Other at FD +1800 (risk .2U)

Get NBA First Basket's bets instantly in The Action Network app.