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NBA first basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get first basket predictions today guided by expert analysis of NBA slate on 1/13.
Our NBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Tuesday, January 13, 2026—are live with the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo projected as the most likely player to score first.
Dimers’ first basket projections draw on key first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily NBA player projections.
Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead Tuesday’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 13, 2026)
| Player | Team | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 18.3% |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 17.2% |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 15.9% |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 15.4% |
| Kevin Durant | Rockets | 15.2% |
| LeBron James | Lakers | 15.1% |
| Luka Doncic | Lakers | 15.0% |
| Shaedon Sharpe | Trail Blazers | 14.5% |
| Zion Williamson | Pelicans | 14.0% |
| Jalen Johnson | Hawks | 13.8% |
| Jamal Murray | Nuggets | 13.6% |
| Norman Powell | Heat | 13.6% |
| Nikola Vucevic | Bulls | 13.3% |
| Devin Booker | Suns | 13.1% |
| Alperen Sengun | Rockets | 12.9% |
NBA first basket picks today (January 13, 2026)
| Player | Team | Edge | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matas Buzelis | Bulls | 2.9% | +950 | 12.4% |
| Tyler Herro | Heat | 2.5% | +900 | 12.5% |
| Jalen Johnson | Hawks | 2.0% | +750 | 13.8% |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Hawks | 1.3% | +850 | 11.8% |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 1.1% | +600 | 15.4% |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | 0.4% | +460 | 18.3% |
| Amen Thompson | Rockets | 0.4% | +800 | 11.5% |
| Onyeka Okongwu | Hawks | 0.4% | +950 | 9.9% |
| Norman Powell | Heat | 0.3% | +650 | 13.6% |
| Shaedon Sharpe | Trail Blazers | 0.2% | +600 | 14.5% |
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 1/13.
Conclusion: Betting on today's NBA first basket
For Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead our first basket projections, while Matas Buzelis shapes as the strongest value play at +950. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ NBA first basket model.
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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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