NBA Best Bets: Top First Scorer Props for Saturday 3/21/26

Zach Thompson details his top first scorer prop bets for Saturday's 10-game NBA slate on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:51pm

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Zach Thompson, a sports betting analyst, provides his top first scorer prop bets for the 10-game NBA slate on Saturday, March 21, 2026. He highlights two key matchups - the Charlotte Hornets vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Miami Heat vs. the Houston Rockets - and explains why he likes Hornets guard LaMelo Ball and Heat center Bam Adebayo to score the first points in their respective games.

Why it matters

First point props are a popular betting market on DraftKings Sportsbook, as they offer a quick resolution without the potential for late-game blowouts or load management issues to impact the outcome. Finding the player who scores the first points in a game can lead to big payouts, as the odds are long. Thompson's analysis provides bettors with insights to potentially capitalize on this market.

The details

For the Hornets-Grizzlies game, Thompson likes LaMelo Ball's chances of scoring the first points, noting that the Grizzlies have struggled to win tip-offs this season and the Hornets have been more successful in that area. Ball has also been aggressive lately, scoring 30 and 20 points in his last two games. In the Heat-Rockets matchup, Thompson favors Bam Adebayo to score the first points. Both Adebayo and Rockets center Alperen Sengun have scored the first basket in 12 of their 59 games this season, but the Heat have won 60% of tip-offs compared to the Rockets' 39.1%. Adebayo has also taken the first shot in 27.1% of his games, while Sengun has done so in only 16.9% of his contests.

  • The Hornets and Grizzlies are playing on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The Heat and Rockets are also playing on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

LaMelo Ball

A guard for the Charlotte Hornets who has been aggressive lately, scoring 30 and 20 points in his last two games.

Bam Adebayo

A center for the Miami Heat who has scored the first basket in 12 of his 59 games this season and has been productive lately, including an 83-point game earlier in the month.

Alperen Sengun

A center for the Houston Rockets who has also scored the first basket in 12 of his 59 games this season.

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What they’re saying

“First point plays are all over the most-bet player props each day on DraftKings Sportsbook, and they can be a great way to get a quick-hitter that delivers a win or loss right away without a long sweat.”

— Zach Thompson, Sports Betting Analyst

What’s next

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The takeaway

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