It seems like we’ve waited forever for the NBA Finals to start. So why wait any longer to cash our first bet?
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers finally get it on Thursday night, and my Pacers vs. Thunder first-basket picks hone in on each team's big man.
Here are my best NBA picks for Thursday, June 5.
Pacers vs Thunder first basket picks
Click on each name to jump to the full analysis
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Indiana Pacers
First basket pick: Myles Turner (+750 at bet365)
Myles Turner has been involved early and often in this Indiana Pacers offense. During the playoffs, the starting center has taken the team’s first field goal attempt three times and was the Pacers’ opening scorer in five of their 16 postseason contests so far.
He was the first player on the scoreboard twice in the Eastern Conference finals, scoring on the first shot of the game in both instances.
Turner has multiple ways to score the first bucket. He’s rangy from deep, able to score inside, and crashed the offensive glass for putbacks.
He’ll likely draw one of two 7-footers from OKC: Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein — as primary defenders, opening up opportunities to beat those lumbering checks with the Pacers’ brand of ball movement and back cuts.
Oklahoma City Thunder
First basket pick: Chet Holmgren (+550 at bet365)
And speaking of Chet Holmgren…
Chet is also quick to get his in this Thunder attack.
He’s attempted the team’s first field goal in five games this postseason and is responsible for the Oklahoma City Thunder's opening bucket five times as well, but not always on that first shot.
Much like Turner, Holmgren can find the basket in various ways and isn’t afraid to let it fly from deep.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Hartenstein as another “first basket” flyer at +650.
You’d think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams would be live in this market, but the Thunder love to get the burly center involved quickly – often driving and throwing alley-oop lobs to the front of the rim.
Hartenstein has taken the first shot in three of Oklahoma City’s 16 playoff games and has buried the first basket in four of those outings. Even in the Western Conference finals, in which his minutes took a hit, he still knocked down OKC’s first FGM in two games.
Pacers vs Thunder first basket odds
- Chet Holmgren (+550)
- Jalen Williams (+550)
- Isaiah Hartenstein (+650)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+700)
- Pascal Siakam (+700)
- Myles Turner (+750)
- Lu Dort (+900)
Odds courtesy of bet365
