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.
Here are Friday’s First to 15 NBA odds and picks.
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Trail Blazers vs. Washington Wizards
| First to 15 Odds | Trail Blazers: +106 | Wizards: -136 |
| Time | TV | 7 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| SportsBook | FanDuel |
The Wizards had an interesting week — their Wednesday game was postponed due to an ice storm, so they’ve had an extra day off and are playing back at home against the Trail Blazers.
The Wizards haven’t covered a Race to 15 bet in three games, but they are significantly better at home (68.2% cover rate) than that are on the road (50% cover rate). On the road, the Blazers also cover these bets exactly half the time, so the Wizards have an edge here.
Digging deeper into their recent play, the Blazers are 29th in first quarter scoring (26.5 points) over their past 15 games and 28th in point differential (-4.5). The Wizards rank 13th and eighth respectively.
I lean toward the Wizards to be the first to 15 at home tonight.
Orlando Magic vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
| First to 15 Odds | Magic: +110 | Timberwolves: -140 |
| Time | TV | 8 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| SportsBook | DraftKings |
The Timberwolves are in the midst of a six-game homestand and in their previous four games, they are 3-1 at home when it comes to Race to 15 bets.
Like the Wizards, the Wolves have been solid at home this season with the 10th-best cover rate (63.3%). Their overall first quarter scoring numbers are in line with that as well — the Wolves rank fourth in first quarter scoring (30.0 points), including seventh (30.4 points) in home games.
The Magic have not been a fast starting team at all this season. They are in the bottom 10 in the Race to 15 standings on the road and rank 26th in first quarter scoring overall this season (27.7 points).
Orlando hasn’t covered a Race to 15 bet in four straight games and I expect that slide will hit five games after tonight.