NBA First Basket Predictions for Thursday Include Anthony Edwards, Buddy Hield [5/8/2025]

This Thursday, May 8th, we have another big day of NBA basketball ahead of us, with the Warriors taking on the Timberwolves at 8:30PM ET.

After examining Thursday's NBA simulations early this morning (see Dimers Pro for full access), our team of data analysts 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 Thursday'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, Thursday's NBA slate is expected to showcase star players such as Anthony Edwards, Buddy Hield and Julius Randle, 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 8, 2025]

Thanks to simulating Thursday'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
Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)	14.4%
Buddy Hield (Warriors)	11.8%
Julius Randle (Timberwolves)	11.7%
Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)	11.0%
Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves)	9.1%
Brandin Podziemski (Warriors)	8.0%
Draymond Green (Warriors)	7.0%
Mike Conley (Timberwolves)	3.9%

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely NBA player to score the first basket in Thursday's clash is Anthony Edwards, with a probability of 14.4%.

Following Edwards closely, the players with the next highest likelihood of cashing your first basket bets are Buddy Hield at 11.8% and Julius Randle at 11.7%.

Dimers Pro Pick of the Day: NBA First Basket [Thursday, 5/8/2025]

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

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

Buddy Hield To Score First Basket

• Odds: +850
• Edge: 1.3%
• Probability: 11.8%
• Matchup: Warriors vs. Timberwolves (8:30PM ET)

Our model has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today's NBA slate in the game between the Warriors and Timberwolves. The bet is on Buddy Hield (GSW) at odds of +850 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 1.3% according to our analysis.

Our model not only highlights Hield for his 1.3% betting edge but also ranks him among the top three most first basket likely scorers for today's Warriors vs. Timberwolves matchup, as seen in the earlier 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 Thursday'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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NBA Schedule for Today [5/8/2025]

• Warriors vs. Timberwolves (8:30PM ET, Thursday)

Today's NBA First Basket Picks: May 8, 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 8, 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 for Thursday, May 8, have been made after rigorous data-driven game simulations, providing 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.

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This article is part of our NBA player props and NBA best bets series.

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