window.tgpQueue.add('tgpli-682fb53a4bff5') 561d4b
Game 1 went according to plan for the Thunder. They top-seeded team cruised in the opener and got out to a 1-0 lead in the series. However, not every thing was perfect. In fact, the thing that we care about most didn’t go there way. The Timberwolves won both the tip and scored the first bucket, which is course what we care about here. We’ll take that info and look to use it as part of our first bucket props for May 22.
We’ve run the data, we’ve look at the trends – now, come check out our first bucket props for May 22.
CHECK OUT THE SPORTS GAMBLING PODCAST’S DAILY BEST BETS
NBA First Bucket Props – May 22 29tr
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 47162d
Tipoff – 8:30 pm EST
Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
Broadcast – ESPN
As I stated above, the Timberwolves got the early action in Game 1. However, that was with some very tight margins on the regular season numbers. Rudy Gobert and Chet Holmgren had about the same success on the tips – with Gobert having a slight 1.8% advantage in wins. The opposite trend is true for the first bucket success rate. The Thunder hold a slim league in that metric by 1.9%. With those metrics split and the Timberwolves getting the first wins, I’ll expect that to flip for Game 2. Give me the Thunder to score first in this one.
While it’s fun to look at the big odds down ballot – sometimes the top of the list makes the most sense. In this case, the chalk is the play with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The volume that he had early in Game 1 is too much to overlook. He took all three of the first three shots for the Thunder. If they snag the tip, I like his chances of being the first one to get something to fall.
First Bucket Bet for May 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+450)
If you’d like even more info to help make your first bucket bets for May 22, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
