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NBA first basket picks and predictions for Saturday, January 24, 2026
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get first basket predictions today backed by expert analysis of NBA slate on 1/24.
Our NBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Saturday, January 24, 2026—are live with the Warriors' Stephen Curry projected as the most likely player to score first.
Dimers’ first basket projections derive insights from key first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily NBA player projections.
Curry, Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards lead Saturday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also feature tonight's top first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.
NBA first basket predictions tonight (January 24, 2026)
| Player | Team | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 16.7% |
| Luka Doncic | Lakers | 15.5% |
| Anthony Edwards | Timberwolves | 15.2% |
| Jaylen Brown | Celtics | 15.2% |
| Norman Powell | Heat | 14.8% |
| Naji Marshall | Mavericks | 14.2% |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 14.0% |
| Nikola Vucevic | Bulls | 13.7% |
| LeBron James | Lakers | 13.7% |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | 12.6% |
| Paolo Banchero | Magic | 12.4% |
| Julius Randle | Timberwolves | 12.4% |
| Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | 12.4% |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 12.4% |
| Keyonte George | Jazz | 12.3% |
NBA first basket picks today (January 24, 2026)
| Player | Team | Edge | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naji Marshall | Mavericks | 6.6% | +1200 | 14.3% |
| Max Christie | Mavericks | 3.1% | +1000 | 12.2% |
| Jaylon Tyson | Cavaliers | 1.2% | +1000 | 10.2% |
| Coby White | Bulls | 0.7% | +900 | 10.7% |
| Cooper Flagg | Mavericks | 0.6% | +750 | 12.4% |
| Norman Powell | Heat | 0.5% | +600 | 14.8% |
| Nikola Vucevic | Bulls | 0.4% | +650 | 13.7% |
| Jalen Smith | Bulls | 0.2% | +1000 | 9.3% |
| Matas Buzelis | Bulls | 0.0% | +800 | 11.1% |
Edges represent the difference between model probability and implied odds.
For more insights on prop markets and value plays across the league, explore our full list of NBA prop bets for 1/24.
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Conclusion: Betting on today's NBA first basket
For Saturday, January 24, 2026, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards lead our first basket projections, while Naji Marshall shapes as the strongest value play at +1200. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ NBA first basket model.
For tips and resources on responsible wagering, visit our Responsible Gambling section.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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