The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are set to take part in a huge Eastern Conference game on Friday night. Miami comes into the game as a two-point favorite at home, but rather than focus on the point spread, the first basket scorer prop is calling out to us in this matchup. Here, we make our NBA betting picks for the Cavaliers vs Heat first basket scorer market.
Heat vs Cavaliers First Basket Prop Pick
| Cavaliers vs Heat First Basket Pick | Jarrett Allen |
| Cavaliers vs Heat First Basket Odds | +700 (Bet $20 to win $140) |
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This game will be played at Miami-Dade Arena at 8:00 PM ET on Friday, March 10, 2023.
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Cavaliers vs Heat First Basket Odds
| Player | First Basket Odds |
|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | +500 |
| Bam Adebayo | +550 |
| Evan Mobley | +600 |
| Jimmy Butler | +650 |
| Jarrett Allen | +700 |
| Darius Garland | +800 |
| Tyler Herro | +800 |
| Kevin Love | +1200 |
| Gabe Vincent | +1300 |
| Isaac Okoro | +1400 |
The Opening Tip: Jarrett Allen vs Bam Adebayo
The first thing to consider when betting on NBA first basket props is the opening tip of the game. After all, it is easier to score first in a game when your team possesses the ball first. There, the Cavaliers should have an advantage in this contest, as Jarrett Allen should be able to win the jump ball over Bam Adebayo.
Both of these bigs are listed at 6’9″, but Allen has been arguably the best jump ball winner in the NBA this season. According to Other Basketball Stats, he is 56-24 in jump balls this season, ranking first in the league. Adebayo ranks fourth in jump ball record at 46-32. Allen should win the tip here, and give the Cavs the opportunity to score first.
Why Jarrett Allen Should Score First
Once the Cavs have the ball, there is a reason that we like Allen to cash in on this Cavaliers vs Heat first basket prop. He comes at a much more favorable price than Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. But he also has a couple of ways to generate easy buckets, rather than having to rely on a long-range shot going in at a less than 50% probability.
An early pick and roll could spring Allen for a lob, something that Cleveland has shown that they can do effectively, especially against an opponent with an undersized center. Allen will also be in the mix for an offensive rebound and putback at the rim, which makes him a prime candidate to score first despite having just the fifth shortest odds to do so.
