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A great way to supplement your NBA betting strategy is by adding a few daily prop bets to the mix. Most online sportsbooks will release a full set of game, team and player props as you get closer and closer to tip off. However, one of the more general props you can bet on well in advance of the start of a game is the ‘race to 20’ game prop.
Prop odds cover which team will be the first to cross the 20-point threshold in that night’s game.
This not only adds some tremendous excitement to a game right out of the gate, it is a great way to cash an early winner if you also have some bets on the side with the spread, moneyline and total line numbers. Get all your NBA scores and odds here.
The race to 20 does favor higher scoring teams, the favorite in mismatches and fast starts in front of the hometown crowd. While handicapping this prop is not an exact science, first quarter scoring stats is a good place to start.
The Milwaukee Bucks (119.2 points) in the Eastern Conference and the Houston Rockets (119.4 points) in the Western Conference are the two highest scoring teams in the league this season. The Bucks would get the slight edge between the two with a shooting percentage of 48.1 verse the Rockets’ shooting percentage of 45.6.
When it comes to first quarter scoring stats, Houston, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, top the list with an average of 29.3 points a game.
The Miami Heat are ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring with an average of 111.1 points per game. However, they move to third on the list in first quarter points with 29.2.
Two other teams averaging 29.2 points in the first quarter are the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks. Milwaukee would be next on the list at 29.1.
This gives you a solid base of five teams that know how to get off to fast starts on the scoreboard.
A few of the best teams to bet against in the race to 20 prop would be the Orlando Magic (25.3 points), Golden State Warriors (25.5 points) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (25.6 points).
As you can see, the margin of difference between the top first-quarter scoring teams and the lowest scoring teams is not all that wide. These stats provide a good starting point but you will need to dig a bit deeper to aid the overall handicapping process.Related Link: Customizable Betting Odds With Real Bookies
The Lakers are the highest scoring first-quarter team in the NBA when playing at home with 31.4 PPG. Miami is next on that list with 30.3 points and the 76ers are third with 30.2.
When it comes to fast starters on the road, Houston is posting an average of 29.4 points in the first quarter of play. Dallas is second on that list at 29.4 followed by the Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs at 28.9 points.
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Conversely, Orlando is the lowest scoring first quarter team at home with 24.9 points followed by the Spurs at 25.6 points. Toronto, Cleveland and Golden State are the lowest scoring road teams in the first quarter with 24.5 points.
The biggest takeaway from these basic scoring stats should be consistency. The Lakers top the list with the best overall balance. Another first-quarter scoring stat that adds some value to the mix is recent performance. Over the Lakers’ last three games, they have averaged 36 points in the first quarter. Houston is high on that list at 31.7 points as another well-balanced scoring team.
