NBA First Basket Predictions for Tuesday Include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell [5/13/2025]

This Tuesday, May 13th, it's time for an exciting day of NBA action, headlined by the Pacers' matchup against the Cavaliers at 7:00PM ET.

After scrutinizing Tuesday's NBA simulations early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of data experts have announced their best first basket bet of the day.

Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has identified as having the greatest chance of scoring the first basket in their respective matchups on Tuesday.

Let's dive into today's NBA first basket news and updates.

NBA Players to Watch Today

Based on the most recent latest NBA Injury Report, Tuesday's NBA games are expected to feature big names such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell and Nikola Jokic, each with a high probability of scoring the first basket when they take to the court.

Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for May 13, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Tuesday's NBA games 10,000 times each, Dimers has determined the list of players most likely to score the first basket in their respective games.

Player (Team)	First Basket Probability
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)	14.5%
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)	14.1%
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)	13.7%
Jalen Williams (Thunder)	12.9%
Pascal Siakam (Pacers)	12.1%
Jamal Murray (Nuggets)	11.8%
Darius Garland (Cavaliers)	10.7%
Aaron Gordon (Nuggets)	10.3%
Myles Turner (Pacers)	10.0%
Aaron Nesmith (Pacers)	10.0%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in any of today's matchups is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a probability of 14.5%.

Following Gilgeous-Alexander closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of scoring the first basket today are Donovan Mitchell at 14.1% and Nikola Jokic at 13.7%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Tuesday, 5/13/2025]

Having simulated the outcome of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our leading predictive analytics model has generated the best NBA first basket betting pick for Tuesday.

For full access to our comprehensive analysis and top picks, subscribe to Dimers Pro.

Aaron Nesmith To Score First Basket

• Odds: +1200
• Edge: 2.3%
• Probability: 10%
• Matchup: Pacers vs. Cavaliers (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Pacers and Cavaliers. The bet is on Aaron Nesmith (IND) at odds of +1200 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 2.3% according to our analysis.

Our model not only features Nesmith for him 2.3% betting edge but also ranks him among the top 10 most likely first basket scorers for today, as seen in the preceding list.

Closer Look at Today's First Basket Props

NBA first basket props have become one of the more popular betting options for basketball bettors. By using Tuesday's data-driven NBA predictions, you can gain an advantage over everyone else.

For today's full list of NBA prop picks, join Dimers Pro. We give you the tools and information to succeed with hundreds of data-driven bets across thousands of games. Sign up now to join the community!

NBA News, Schedule Alerts and Updated Odds

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• Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games

NBA Schedule for Today [5/13/2025]

• Pacers vs. Cavaliers (7:00PM ET, Tuesday)
• Nuggets vs. Thunder (9:30PM ET, Tuesday)

For more betting guides, check out Tuesday's NBA best bets and our NBA player prop picks for Tuesday.

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: May 13, 2025

This NBA first basket article has been partially generated using automated processes and AI technology. Our goal is to provide timely and accurate updates on NBA first basket picks for May 13, 2025. Automation assists in data collection, analysis, and formatting, while human editing and quality control ensure the content meets our editorial standards.

All of Dimers' NBA first basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, May 13, are based on rigorous data-driven game simulations, giving you reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.

If you plan to use today's NBA first basket predictions for sports betting, it's important that you gamble responsibly and manage your finances effectively. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Understanding Betting Edge

The "edge" at Dimers is when we think the probability of an event occurring is more likely than the best odds available. Essentially, it means that Dimers believes a bet has a better chance of winning than the sportsbooks do. That's why the higher the edge, the better.

Although it does not guarantee a win, taking picks with a higher betting edge can increase your chances of being profitable in the long run. This is an essential aspect of a successful sports betting strategy.

More on NBA

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