There are so many ways to bet an NBA game, but for those bettors who can’t bear to sweat the full 48 minutes, there are other markets that offer more instant satisfaction. One of those markets is the Race to 15 Points. It’s as simple as the name suggests: The first team to hit 15 points cashes the bet.
There are 13 games on the schedule for Friday night’s NBA slate, but the bet I’m looking at comes from one game: Hawks vs. Nets. Here’s my first to 15 pick for tonight’s game.
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Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
| First to 15 Odds | Hawks: -118 | Nets: -108 |
| Time | TV | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| SportsBook | FanDuel |
The Hawks have been beaten to the 15-point mark in four straight games entering tonight’s meeting against the Nets. Meanwhile the Nets have won the Race to 15 in back-to-back games. The Hawks aren’t huge favorites here, but I think there’s value.
The Hawks lead the NBA in first quarter scoring over the past 10 games averaging 33.8 points. The Nets are averaging 28 in the first and have had some really rough stretches of early scoring since they traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Since the trade deadline, the Nets rank 22nd in first quarter Pace while the Hawks rank fourth. And over that span, the Hawks have been the highest scoring first quarter team in the league (32.6) while the Nets rank 28th (26.7). It also helps that Trae Young, who will have the ball in his hands more than anyone on the Hawks, is top-10 in first quarter scoring this season.
The Nets have clearly been better recently, but I think that ends tonight against the Hawks in a game they need to win to keep pace in the play-in race. I would play the Hawks up to -120.