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NBA First Basket Predictions for Saturday Include Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam [5/31/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Our expert analysis on Saturday's NBA first basket market.
This Saturday, May 31st, it's time for an action-packed day of NBA action, with the Knicks facing the Pacers at 8:00PM ET.
After examining Saturday's NBA simulation results early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of data analysts have revealed their best first basket bet of the day.
Additionally, this article reveals the NBA players our predictive analytics model has identified as having the highest probability of scoring the first basket in Saturday's lone game.
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, Saturday's NBA slate is expected to feature star players such as Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam and Karl-Anthony Towns, each with a high probability of opening the scoring when they take to the court.
Who Will Score the First Basket Tonight? [NBA Cheat Sheet for May 31, 2025]
Thanks to simulating Saturday's NBA game 10,000 times, Dimers has determined the list of players most likely to score the first basket.
| Player (Team) | First Basket Probability |
|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson (Knicks) | 15.2% |
| Pascal Siakam (Pacers) | 13.6% |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks) | 13.1% |
| Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) | 10.9% |
| Mikal Bridges (Knicks) | 10.1% |
| Myles Turner (Pacers) | 9.4% |
| Aaron Nesmith (Pacers) | 8.8% |
| Andrew Nembhard (Pacers) | 7.2% |
| OG Anunoby (Knicks) | 7.1% |
| Mitchell Robinson (Knicks) | 4.5% |
According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in Saturday's clash is Jalen Brunson, with a probability of 15.2%.
Following Brunson closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Pascal Siakam at 13.6% and Karl-Anthony Towns at 13.1%.
Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Saturday, 5/31/2025]
Having simulated the result of today's NBA slate thousands of times, our predictive model has found the best NBA first basket betting pick for Saturday.
For full access to our comprehensive analysis and top picks, subscribe to Dimers Pro.
Tyrese Haliburton To Score First Basket
- Odds: +950
- Edge: 1.4%
- Probability: 10.9%
- Matchup: Knicks vs. Pacers (8:00PM ET)
Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Knicks and Pacers. The bet is on Tyrese Haliburton (IND) at odds of +950 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 1.4% according to our analysis.
Our model not only highlights Haliburton for his 1.4% betting edge but also ranks him among the top five most first basket likely scorers for today's Knicks vs. Pacers game, as seen in the above 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 Saturday'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
- Read the latest news alerts from the official NBA feed
- Check updated NBA odds
- Find broadcasting and streaming options for today's NBA games
NBA Schedule for Today [5/31/2025]
- Knicks vs. Pacers (8:00PM ET, Saturday)
Today's NBA First Basket Picks: May 31, 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 31, 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 predictions for Saturday, May 31, are based on thousands of data-driven game simulations, giving you reliable and accurate NBA predictions to help you make informed decisions.
If you use today's NBA first basket picks for sports betting, it's crucial that you practice responsible gambling 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 About NBA
This article is part of our NBA player props and NBA best bets series.
For more NBA betting content, we have NBA trends for every game, as well as daily NBA betting news and the latest NBA title odds and predictions.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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