NBA First Basket Tracker

2026 Season • Updates Every 10 Minutes

Live NBA first basket tracker with real-time stats for every game. See who scores the first point and first field goal of each game, with detailed shot type and timing information updated every 10 minutes.

Today's Games → First Basket Stats → NFL First TD Tracker → All NFL TDs →

Want to analyze first basket trends? Check out our NBA First Basket Stats page!

First Basket Rules

First Point Overall: The very first score of the game by either team (may include free throws)

First FG Overall: The first field goal scored in the game (excludes free throws)

Per-Team Stats: Each team's first point and first field goal (may be different if first score was a free throw)

Sportsbooks that Count Free Throws as the First Basket/Point:

Sportsbooks that Only Count Field Goals (Free Throws Do NOT Count):

Want Live First Basket Alerts?

Follow @1stteambasket on X (Twitter) for real-time tweets of all first basket variations for every NBA game, including both first point overall and first field goal, with free throw considerations for each team.

Select Game Date:

First Baskets - December 29, 2025

Date/Time	Matchup	First Point Overall	First FG Overall
Dec 29, 2025 10:30 PM ET	Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers	Daniel Gafford (DAL) 2pt Shot @ 10:48	Daniel Gafford (DAL) 2pt Shot @ 10:48
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls	Donte DiVincenzo (MIN) 3pt Shot @ 11:15	Donte DiVincenzo (MIN) 3pt Shot @ 11:15
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets	Jay Huff (IND) Dunk @ 11:36	Jay Huff (IND) Dunk @ 11:36
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans	Mohamed Diawara (NY) 2pt Shot @ 11:37	Mohamed Diawara (NY) 2pt Shot @ 11:37
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder	Dyson Daniels (ATL) Layup @ 11:38	Dyson Daniels (ATL) Layup @ 11:38
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs	Evan Mobley (CLE) Layup @ 11:08	Evan Mobley (CLE) Layup @ 11:08
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets	Michael Porter Jr. (BKN) 3pt Shot @ 11:42	Michael Porter Jr. (BKN) 3pt Shot @ 11:42
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat	Bam Adebayo (MIA) Jumper @ 11:05	Bam Adebayo (MIA) Jumper @ 11:05
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors	Ochai Agbaji (TOR) Dunk @ 10:55	Ochai Agbaji (TOR) Dunk @ 10:55
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets	LaMelo Ball (CHA) Jumper @ 10:48	LaMelo Ball (CHA) Jumper @ 10:48
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards	Bilal Coulibaly (WSH) Dunk @ 11:31	Bilal Coulibaly (WSH) Dunk @ 11:31

Per-Team First Baskets - December 29, 2025

Date/Time	Matchup	Team	First Point	First FG
Dec 29, 2025 10:30 PM ET	Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers	DAL	Daniel Gafford 2pt Shot @ 10:48	Daniel Gafford 2pt Shot @ 10:48
Dec 29, 2025 10:30 PM ET	Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers	POR	Toumani Camara 3pt Shot @ 10:32	Toumani Camara 3pt Shot @ 10:32
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls	CHI	Josh Giddey FT 1/2 @ 10:01	Nikola Vucevic Hook @ 9:04
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls	MIN	Donte DiVincenzo 3pt Shot @ 11:15	Donte DiVincenzo 3pt Shot @ 11:15
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets	HOU	Steven Adams Dunk @ 11:17	Steven Adams Dunk @ 11:17
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets	IND	Jay Huff Dunk @ 11:36	Jay Huff Dunk @ 11:36
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans	NO	Saddiq Bey Layup @ 10:55	Saddiq Bey Layup @ 10:55
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans	NY	Mohamed Diawara 2pt Shot @ 11:37	Mohamed Diawara 2pt Shot @ 11:37
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder	ATL	Dyson Daniels Layup @ 11:38	Dyson Daniels Layup @ 11:38
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder	OKC	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jumper @ 11:23	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jumper @ 11:23
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs	CLE	Evan Mobley Layup @ 11:08	Evan Mobley Layup @ 11:08
Dec 29, 2025 08:00 PM ET	Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs	SA	De'Aaron Fox Layup @ 9:58	De'Aaron Fox Layup @ 9:58
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets	BKN	Michael Porter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 11:42	Michael Porter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 11:42
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets	GS	Quinten Post 3pt Shot @ 11:22	Quinten Post 3pt Shot @ 11:22
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat	DEN	Nikola Jokic FT 1/2 @ 10:52	Jamal Murray 2pt Shot @ 9:44
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat	MIA	Bam Adebayo Jumper @ 11:05	Bam Adebayo Jumper @ 11:05
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors	ORL	Wendell Carter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 10:34	Wendell Carter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 10:34
Dec 29, 2025 07:30 PM ET	Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors	TOR	Ochai Agbaji Dunk @ 10:55	Ochai Agbaji Dunk @ 10:55
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets	CHA	LaMelo Ball Jumper @ 10:48	LaMelo Ball Jumper @ 10:48
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets	MIL	Kevin Porter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 10:31	Kevin Porter Jr. 3pt Shot @ 10:31
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards	PHX	Devin Booker FT 2/2 @ 11:24	Oso Ighodaro Dunk @ 10:30
Dec 29, 2025 07:00 PM ET	Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards	WSH	Bilal Coulibaly Dunk @ 11:31	Bilal Coulibaly Dunk @ 11:31

Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers

Dec 29, 2025 • 10:30 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Daniel Gafford (DAL)
2pt Shot @ 10:48

First Field Goal Overall

Daniel Gafford (DAL)
2pt Shot @ 10:48

DAL

First Point

Daniel Gafford
2pt Shot @ 10:48

First Field Goal

Daniel Gafford
2pt Shot @ 10:48

POR

First Point

Toumani Camara
3pt Shot @ 10:32

First Field Goal

Toumani Camara
3pt Shot @ 10:32

Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls

Dec 29, 2025 • 08:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Donte DiVincenzo (MIN)
3pt Shot @ 11:15

First Field Goal Overall

Donte DiVincenzo (MIN)
3pt Shot @ 11:15

CHI

First Point

Josh Giddey
FT 1/2 @ 10:01

First Field Goal

Nikola Vucevic
Hook @ 9:04

MIN

First Point

Donte DiVincenzo
3pt Shot @ 11:15

First Field Goal

Donte DiVincenzo
3pt Shot @ 11:15

Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets

Dec 29, 2025 • 08:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Jay Huff (IND)
Dunk @ 11:36

First Field Goal Overall

Jay Huff (IND)
Dunk @ 11:36

HOU

First Point

Steven Adams
Dunk @ 11:17

First Field Goal

Steven Adams
Dunk @ 11:17

IND

First Point

Jay Huff
Dunk @ 11:36

First Field Goal

Jay Huff
Dunk @ 11:36

New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans

Dec 29, 2025 • 08:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Mohamed Diawara (NY)
2pt Shot @ 11:37

First Field Goal Overall

Mohamed Diawara (NY)
2pt Shot @ 11:37

First Point

Saddiq Bey
Layup @ 10:55

First Field Goal

Saddiq Bey
Layup @ 10:55

First Point

Mohamed Diawara
2pt Shot @ 11:37

First Field Goal

Mohamed Diawara
2pt Shot @ 11:37

Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec 29, 2025 • 08:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Dyson Daniels (ATL)
Layup @ 11:38

First Field Goal Overall

Dyson Daniels (ATL)
Layup @ 11:38

ATL

First Point

Dyson Daniels
Layup @ 11:38

First Field Goal

Dyson Daniels
Layup @ 11:38

OKC

First Point

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jumper @ 11:23

First Field Goal

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jumper @ 11:23

Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs

Dec 29, 2025 • 08:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Evan Mobley (CLE)
Layup @ 11:08

First Field Goal Overall

Evan Mobley (CLE)
Layup @ 11:08

CLE

First Point

Evan Mobley
Layup @ 11:08

First Field Goal

Evan Mobley
Layup @ 11:08

First Point

De'Aaron Fox
Layup @ 9:58

First Field Goal

De'Aaron Fox
Layup @ 9:58

Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets

Dec 29, 2025 • 07:30 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Michael Porter Jr. (BKN)
3pt Shot @ 11:42

First Field Goal Overall

Michael Porter Jr. (BKN)
3pt Shot @ 11:42

BKN

First Point

Michael Porter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 11:42

First Field Goal

Michael Porter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 11:42

First Point

Quinten Post
3pt Shot @ 11:22

First Field Goal

Quinten Post
3pt Shot @ 11:22

Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat

Dec 29, 2025 • 07:30 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Bam Adebayo (MIA)
Jumper @ 11:05

First Field Goal Overall

Bam Adebayo (MIA)
Jumper @ 11:05

DEN

First Point

Nikola Jokic
FT 1/2 @ 10:52

First Field Goal

Jamal Murray
2pt Shot @ 9:44

MIA

First Point

Bam Adebayo
Jumper @ 11:05

First Field Goal

Bam Adebayo
Jumper @ 11:05

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors

Dec 29, 2025 • 07:30 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Ochai Agbaji (TOR)
Dunk @ 10:55

First Field Goal Overall

Ochai Agbaji (TOR)
Dunk @ 10:55

ORL

First Point

Wendell Carter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 10:34

First Field Goal

Wendell Carter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 10:34

TOR

First Point

Ochai Agbaji
Dunk @ 10:55

First Field Goal

Ochai Agbaji
Dunk @ 10:55

Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets

Dec 29, 2025 • 07:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

LaMelo Ball (CHA)
Jumper @ 10:48

First Field Goal Overall

LaMelo Ball (CHA)
Jumper @ 10:48

CHA

First Point

LaMelo Ball
Jumper @ 10:48

First Field Goal

LaMelo Ball
Jumper @ 10:48

MIL

First Point

Kevin Porter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 10:31

First Field Goal

Kevin Porter Jr.
3pt Shot @ 10:31

Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards

Dec 29, 2025 • 07:00 PM ET

🏀 Game First Baskets

First Point Overall

Bilal Coulibaly (WSH)
Dunk @ 11:31

First Field Goal Overall

Bilal Coulibaly (WSH)
Dunk @ 11:31

PHX

First Point

Devin Booker
FT 2/2 @ 11:24

First Field Goal

Oso Ighodaro
Dunk @ 10:30

WSH

First Point

Bilal Coulibaly
Dunk @ 11:31

First Field Goal

Bilal Coulibaly
Dunk @ 11:31

NBA First Basket Stats & Trends

Understanding First Basket Betting

First basket betting is one of the most popular prop bets in NBA games. The bet pays out when you correctly predict which player will score the first points of the game. Understanding historical scoring patterns can give you an edge when placing first basket bets.

Key Factors That Influence First Basket Results

Jump Ball Winners: The team that wins the opening tip-off has a significantly higher chance of scoring first. Centers who win tip-offs often immediately pass to guards or forwards for quick scoring opportunities.
Fast Break Specialists: Guards who excel in transition offense (like De'Aaron Fox, Ja Morant) have higher first basket rates when their team controls the opening possession.
Early Shot Clock Usage: Players who typically receive the first touch on offense are more likely to score first. Look for primary ball handlers and pick-and-roll ball handlers.
Three-Point Specialists: Teams that run designed three-point plays off the opening possession give shooters like Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard elevated first basket odds.
Free Throw Considerations: Remember that some sportsbooks count free throws as the first basket, while others only count field goals. This drastically changes the odds and probabilities.

Historical First Basket Trends

Home vs Away Impact: Home teams score the first basket approximately 52-54% of the time across NBA history. This slight edge is attributed to favorable jump ball officiating and home crowd energy during opening possessions.

Position Breakdown: Guards score roughly 50-55% of first baskets, forwards account for 30-35%, and centers score 10-15%. This distribution reflects modern NBA offensive schemes that prioritize perimeter play in early possessions.

Shot Type Distribution: Approximately 45% of first baskets come from three-pointers, 35% from two-point field goals, and 20% from free throws. The rise in three-point shooting has significantly increased the odds of the first basket being a three-pointer compared to a decade ago.

Using This Tracker for Betting Research

Our tracker lets you review historical first basket data to identify patterns for specific teams and players. Use the date selector to browse past games and analyze:

Which players consistently score first for their teams
How specific team matchups affect first basket outcomes (jump ball advantages, pace of play)
Whether certain venues or game times correlate with first basket trends
Shot type patterns (free throws vs field goals) to inform your sportsbook selection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this NBA first basket tracker updated live?

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Yes! Our NBA first basket tracker is updated every 10 minutes during game days. You can track live first basket scorers, including first point and first field goal stats for all NBA games throughout the season.

Who scored the first basket tonight in the NBA?

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Select today's date from the date selector above to see all first basket scorers from tonight's NBA games. The tracker shows both first point overall and first field goal scorers for each game, updated every 10 minutes.

How can I see who scored the first point today in NBA games?

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Simply select the current date from the dropdown menu to view all first point scorers from today's NBA games. The data includes player names, teams, shot types, and game clock times for both overall and per-team first baskets.

Do free throws count as the first basket?

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It depends on the sportsbook! Some books (like FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365, BetOnline, Bovada, Caesars, theScore Bet, and Hard Rock Bet) count free throws as the first basket. Others (like BetMGM, BetRivers, and Fanatics) only count field goals. Our tracker shows BOTH - "First Point Overall" includes free throws, while "First FG Overall" only counts field goals.

What's the difference between first point and first field goal?

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First Point Overall is the very first score in the game, which could be a free throw or a field goal. First Field Goal (FG) Overall is the first made basket from the field (2-pointer or 3-pointer), excluding free throws. If a free throw is the first point, these will be different players.

Can I see first basket data from previous games?

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Yes! Use the date selector dropdown at the top of the page to navigate between different game dates throughout the NBA season. You can view first basket scorers for any completed game date.

How often is the first basket data updated?

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The NBA first basket tracker updates every 10 minutes during the season. This ensures you have access to the most current first basket statistics and can track live games as they happen.