What is 1st Quarter – 1X2 in Basketball?
- 1 = Home team wins 1st quarter
- X = Draw in 1st quarter (rare but possible, especially in lower-scoring leagues)
- 2 = Away team wins 1st quarter
This bet only considers the result of the first quarter, not the full game. Overtime does not count.
Team Analysis Example: Golden State Warriors (NBA)
Style of Play:
- Fast starts: Known for explosive 3-point shooting from Curry, Thompson, and Poole (when active).
- Pace of play: Top 5 in possessions per game → more early scoring opportunities.
- Defensive issues early: Often concede easy baskets due to experimenting with lineups.
1st Quarter Trends:
- Warriors at home usually push tempo and shoot high percentages.
- In 2022/23 NBA season, they had one of the highest average 1st-quarter points (~31 PPG).
- On the road, their defense was weaker, so betting Over or opponent to win Q1 often had value.
Example Bet
Matchup: Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- Warriors average 30.5 points in Q1 at home.
- Grizzlies average 27.0 points in Q1 on the road.
- Odds:
- 1 (Warriors win Q1) = 1.80
- X (Draw Q1) = 12.00
- 2 (Grizzlies win Q1) = 2.10
Analysis: Warriors’ strong 1st-quarter shooting + home-court advantage → good value in Warriors to win Q1 (1).
Betting Tips for 1st Quarter – 1X2
- Check team starts – Some teams (like Denver Nuggets) start strong, others (like Miami Heat) take time to warm up.
- Home vs. Away splits – Home teams often push harder early to set momentum.
- Back-to-back games – Fatigue impacts early energy levels, especially for road teams.
- Star availability – If a key scorer is injured/rested, the first-quarter edge may flip.
- Avoid Draws unless odds are huge – Ties are rare in basketball quarters, but value can exist in low-scoring leagues (EuroLeague, FIBA).
Pro Tip: Track 1st-quarter scoring averages of both teams (points for & against). Comparing these gives a sharper edge than looking only at full-game stats.
Would you like me to also create a step-by-step betting strategy template (like how to compare stats, filter games, and pick 1st-quarter winners)? That way, you could apply it to any team.