There are so many ways to bet an NBA game, but for those bettors who can't bear to sweat the full 48 minutes, there are other markets that offer more instant satisfaction. One of those markets is the Race to 15 Points. It's as simple as the name suggests: The first team to hit 15 points cashes the bet.
For tonight's slate, there are two matchups featuring fast starting teams that should have a matchup advantage against their respective opponents. Let's dive into tonight's first to 15 NBA odds and picks.
Nets vs. Hawks
| First to 15 Odds | Nets: -170 | Hawks: +132 |
| Time | TV | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| SportsBook | FanDuel |
The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA and one of the hottest when it comes to the Race to 15. The Nets were the first to 15 in their past three games — six of their past 10 — and they have the second-highest road win percentage. The Hawks, conversely, are literally middle of the road this season in this area with a 9-8 record at home.
In their past 10 games, the Nets have the best Net Rating (+16.4), 3-point percentage (47.1%) and score the most points (32.6) in the first quarter. It helps that Kevin Durant has been playing the entire first quarter in this stretch and putting up 10.8 points on his own.
The Nets are an absolute machine right now and these odds reflect how much the books respect them. Betting them to be the first to 15 at this price is steep, but I'm going to ride with the hot team to hit this mark.
Jazz vs. Warriors
| First to 15 Odds | Jazz: -140 | Warriors: +110 |
| Time | TV | 10 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| SportsBook | FanDuel |
The Warriors are a completely different team when they are playing at home compared to when they play on the road. They have the second-best home record in the NBA and the worst road record at the same time. Luckily for the Warriors, and bettors, they face the Jazz at Chase Center.
These trends have extended to the Race to 15 markets as well. At home, the Warriors get off to fast starts and have the best record in the NBA in this area. This game will be the second of a back-to-back, which means the Warriors likely won't have Klay Thompson, along with other starters potentially. Still, the Jazz are a slow-starting team and in their past 10 games they've been the first to 15 just twice in the stretch.
Even without Thompson, the Warriors have Jordan Poole, who has been among the top-10 scorers in the first quarter over the last 10 games.
I think this number is off here and I like the value on the Warriors at home.
