NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Bet Julius Randle, RJ Barrett in Knicks vs. Bulls (December 16)

NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Bet Julius Randle, RJ Barrett in Knicks vs. Bulls (December 16) article feature image
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Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: RJ Barrett and Julius Randle

  • NBA First Basket has found an edge in tonight's Knicks vs. Bulls matchup.
  • The Knicks will likely get the first possession in this game, so he is targeting two Knicks to score the first bucket.
  • Find NBA First Basket's picks and analysis below.

NBA First Basket will break down some of his favorite NBA plays of the day here, and will track all his bets in The Action Network app.

NBA First Basket Prop Pick: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett

OddsJulius Randle (+600) and RJ Barrett (+750)
Time8 p.m. ET
Book
FanDuel

The New YorkKnicks are in Chicago to face the Bulls on Friday night. These two teams faced each other on Wednesday with Robinson winning the tip-off and Randle taking and making the first shot (a 3-pointer) to cash the first basket. Robinson and and Brunson each scored  30 points while RJ Barrett added 22 points.

Mitchell Robinson (68% opening-tip win rate this season) will likely be jumping at center against Nikola Vucevic (22% win rate). Vucevic and Robinson have faced off on opening tips four times over the past two seasons, with Vucevic winning both tips in 2021 and Robinson winning both tips in 2022.

The Knicks have scored first 54% of the time this season and are on a bit of a hot streak having scored first in seven of the last 10 games. The Bulls have significantly struggled to win any opening tips, and as a result, have scored first only 33% of the time.

Jalen Brunson has taken the first shot most often (nine games this season) for the Knicks, but Julius Randle has scored the first team field goal in 46% of games this season for New York.

I'm going to take Randle and pair him with Barrett to score first tonight.

Pick: Julius Randle +600 (0.7 units, play down to +450)

Pick: RJ Barrett +750 (0.4 units, play down to +600)

Knicks vs. Bulls First Basket Prop Data

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