NBA First Basket Predictions & Prop Bet Picks Today: Celtics vs. Warriors 6/2

The NBA Finals has a fantastic matchup with two healthy teams as the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics play for the NBA title. Both teams are peaking at just the right time. The Warriors are finally healthy and ran through the Western Conference with ease, whereas the Celtics had a gruesome path but came out to represent the Eastern Conference. Coming into this NBA Finals, the Warriors have played 16 games compared to the Celtics 18, as they had two series go the distance. Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the show tonight.

NBA First Basket Prediction & Prop Bet Picks Today 6/2

There are three names that really stand out in this series when it comes to first basket props: Jaylen Brown, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney. Two of them are listed below, but all three will be in a majority of these articles during the NBA Finals unless the odds or something else drastically changes. Without further ado, let’s dive into these odds and find a winner tonight for Game 1.

Warriors vs. Celtics Game 1 | Thursday, June 2 | 9:00 p.m. ET

Let’s dive into the starters and their odds to score the first basket.

The Starters and Odds

Jaylen Brown +400
Stephen Curry +400
Klay Thompson +550
Jayson Tatum +600
Andrew Wiggins +750
Al Horford +900
Robert Williams +1000
Marcus Smart +1200
Kevon Looney +1600
Draymond Green +1600

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Stud NBA First Basket Prop Bet: Klay Thompson +550

In the last Celtics series, a non-stud scored every first basket. As such, this stud pick is on the Warriors side. Even though the Warriors have only won 38% of their tips during the playoffs, Thompson has been a focal point of their offense early in games. They obviously draw plays to get Thompson early looks to get him going. He has made the first Warriors basket in four of their 16 playoff games, good for second on the team, behind Looney. Not only that, but Thompson has taken at least the third Warriors field goal attempt in 11 of those 16 games, showing truly how involved he is right from the tip. The Warriors have won the tip in four of their last five games, which is positive considering the Celtics have only won the tip in 39% of their playoff games this season. Thompson is shooting much better in the postseason than the regular season and is second behind Stephen Curry in points, averaging 19.8 per game.

Longshot NBA First Basket Prop Bet: Kevon Looney +1600

This Looney first basket prop hit in Game 5 of the last Warriors game, and this feels like a very disrespectful line for Game 1. Ever since Game 6 of the Memphis Grizzlies series, Looney has been a different player. Looney is averaging 9.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the six games since while playing 29.2 minutes per game. All of those are major increases from his previous playoff games. Looney has scored the first bucket for the Warriors in three straight games, two of which were the first basket of the game. The downside is the Celtics’ incredible defense. They allowed the third-fewest points in the paint during the regular season, as they start a very big lineup with Al Horford and Robert Williams. This won’t be an easy task, but Looney is playing so well right now and is being involved very early in the game. Looney has scored the first Warriors basket in seven of their 16 playoff games this season, which is nearly half; this is incredible value.

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