Updated on: October 7th, 2024
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world’s premier basketball league. Star players like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry astound fans with exhilarating performances.
Overall, it’s these star players which makes predicting which team will win a game a little bit predictable. The Boston Celtics were unbeatable with Larry Bird, the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, and the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant. The trend has only continued.
So, naturally, NBA betting is very popular and both brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks.
What most bettors don’t seem to realize is that you can really win a lot of money betting on basketball. With more than 1230 games in an NBA season, there is a good opportunity to walk away with a healthy profit if you have a good NBA betting model. But you need to be patient to do so, and a lot of people can’t manage this.
Below we try to teach you all there is to know about betting on this famous sports league. Some of the areas we cover include:
- The types of bets you can place (or lines),
- How to read odds,
- Why you should look at live betting,
- How to bet on the NBA finals.
We also provide a list of online gambling sites that all you to bet on basketball matches so that you can get started as soon as you feel comfortable.
Online Sports Betting Sites with NBA Lines
How to Bet on NBA Games
So, betting on a basketball game is pretty straightforward. But we know that some people have never done it before, so here is a step-by-step guide of the general process:
- Have a look at the NBA schedule and pick a game you would like to bet on.
- Pick the type of bet you would like to place. You have a variety of options available to you. Perhaps, you think you know who is going to win or lose. Or, maybe you’ve got a knack of guessing outcomes of proposition bets?
- Set your stake. Make sure that you can afford it.
- Click the confirm option to cement your bet.
- Watch the game to see if you were right!
NBA Betting Lines
So, with basketball being a very popular sport, there are loads of betting lines available on matches in popular leagues like the NBA. Here are some of the most commonly placed:
Moneyline Bets
So, when people think of sports betting, they generally tend to think of moneylines. This bet involves predicting which team will win a game and nothing more. In some sports, like hockey and baseball, moneylines can be profitable.
However, in a league like the NBA, where some matchups have obvious winners, moneylines aren’t really worth making. The reason is that you don’t really earn that much, and if the underdog manages to win, it is a stupid loss to take because the gains weren’t worth it, to begin with.
NBA Point Spread
NBA spread betting is very popular because this bet type offers better odds than regular moneylines. Basically, a sportsbook predicts the difference in NBA scores. So, they set a favorite and an underdog in a match and set the scoreline difference they expect the game to feature.
If you are still a little confused, let us show you a more concrete example. Here is what odds for NBA basketball spreads look like at a sportsbook:
Los Angeles Clippers +3½ -125
Milwaukee Bucks -3½ +115
So, in the above line, the Bucks are considered the favorites to win the game, so they need to beat the Clippers by more than four points for a bet on them to payout. However, the Clippers only need to lose by less than four points for a bet on the team to payout. We can tell this by the 3½ located next to each team name and the symbol next to it.
Totals
Also known as over/unders, totals involve predicting the total score of the game, both numbers combine. So, let’s say in the list of NBA games today, there is a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers that ends 92-88. The final score of the game will be 180.
Sportsbooks set over/under lines for several total scores which you can bet on. In terms of profitability, totals are often thought to be the best wager as most gamblers see returns on them. You also don’t have to predict whether a specific team will win or not.
NBA Prop Bets
Props are event-based bets. The outcome of the game has no bearing on whether these bets are successful. Basically, you bet on whether something will happen during the match. So, for example, you could bet that Luka Dončić is going to score a double-double in the Dallas Mavericks’ next game.
So, it doesn’t matter if the Mavericks lose, Dončić just needs to get that double-double for you to win.
Props can mainly be divided into two different categories: skilled and exotic. Skilled bets are those based on aspects that are, in some way, measurable. If Dončić is having a good season and has been on a hot streak in his last few games, it stands to reason that he may potentially score at least a double-double in his next match.
However, exotic props are based on luck alone. They are truly random. So, think of wagers along the lines of whether or not Michael Jordan will appear at that Mavericks game. Or, if Mark Cuban will high-five the Mavericks coach after the game.
Future Betting
Futures odds seem very alluring to first-time bettors because they promise huge payouts on small bets. The reason they have long odds is that they are challenging to win. Mostly, bettors wager on a match or event that is due to happen in the future.
So, think along the lines of making wagers on the NBA Championship or NBA MVP betting odds at the beginning of the season. Even of the Milwaukee Bucks or Los Angeles Lakers are favored to win the Championship at the start of the season, this is not a sure thing.
For example, Anthony Davis could get injured at the halfway through the season, leaving LeBron James unsupported. Will the Lakers still be able to win an NBA Championship if this happens?
While futures are quite exciting bets, we don’t recommend that you bet too many of them. These tie-up your bankroll for a while and you are more unlikely to lose than win. So, place only one or two futures with a deposit.
NBA Odds Explained
Are you confused about how odds work? Well, there really is nothing to them. They are straightforward to read and understand despite seeming a bit intimidating.
In the most basketball betting sites default to the Moneyline odds system, even though it is possible to switch to other formats if you so desire. (Many of our experts actually prefer the decimal system).
With the American/Moneyline system, odds on a betting line look like this:
Philadelphia 76ers +200
Orlando Magic -200
Now, you can calculate how much you could potentially win by wagering on either of the two teams in the matchup by looking at the mathematical sign next to the team. The plus sign denotes the underdog, and the minus denotes the favourite.
These two formulas will help you calculate your potential winnings in each situation:
- Positive – Odds x (Stake/100)
- Negative – (100/Odds) x Stake
Basically, if you bet $100 on the 76ers stand a chance to win $200 (not including your bet.) However, you will need to bet $200 on the Magic to win $100.
Free NBA Betting Tips
So, as we said in the beginning, betting on basketball can be very profitable. You just need to create a good model for your wagers. We are always working on refining ours, but we do have some NBA betting advice that may help you get started on yours:
Learn Betting Markets
Each betting market (or line) has its own set of stats that you need to make yourself aware of. Some teams are better against the spread than others, whereas some teams are better for overs. You need to make yourself aware of this information so that you can make more accurate predictions.
For example, it doesn’t matter if the Golden State Warriors are the last-place team in the league. They could still be a good side to pick to beat the spread. Also, their last game could have been high-scoring, but on average they’re better for unders. Make sure you keep such facts in mind when making your decisions.
Pick Teams to Bet On & Stick to Them
There are 30 teams in the NBA. There is no way that you can learn the ins and outs of every single team. If you are looking at crafting a sound NBA betting strategy, select a few teams to focus on and become very knowledgeable about them.
Learn about their roster, the form of the players, their performance at home versus that on the road and the betting statistics related to each possible bet you can place on them. This way, you will give yourself an edge in a small area in NBA online betting.
Join an NBA Betting Forum
So, we don’t think blindly following tipsters is a good idea. Anyone can post predictions on the internet, so you could really just be making somebody ad revenue. However, sometimes discussing bets with other gamblers can give you insight on a potential wager.
Either you are made aware of a potential opportunity to bet against the public, or you are made aware of something you didn’t think of. So, discussing bets is never a bad thing as long as you are not acting on everything you read.
As for forums, you could possibly join, we recommend looking for a good NBA Reddit thread. There are a couple out there that have loads of members providing insight behind their decisions. We provide NBA betting predictions in our blog regularly too. You don’t have to follow our suggestions, but you could see how we came to our decisions before placing a bet.
Pay Attention to Momentum
Teams generally tend to go on streaks. When a team finds their rhythm, they tend to win many games in quick succession. The same can be said about losses. So, if you see that a team is in good form, try to take advantage of it.
For example, the Toronto Raptors went on a 15-game winning streak during the 2019-20 season. This means that you could have made cash on a moneyline on 15 consecutive occasions before they lost to the Brooklyn Nets.
Check out our other sports betting guides:
NBA Public Betting – Understanding Consensus Bets
When speaking of the most popular NBA betting strategies, it is almost criminal not to mention public betting or consensus picks. This strategy focuses on following public NBA betting trends as a means of making a more informed bet.
Basically, a bettor will look at the latest NBA betting percentages to determine the outcome favored by the public. For example, if you are making a moneyline bet, this could mean which team most bettors think is going to win the match
While this information could be used to solidify your selection, many gamblers use consensus pick to hunt for opportunities to make sharp bets. A “sharp bet” refers to a bet made on a line where the public and bookies thought that the result was just a little too obvious, with game featuring a clear favorite and underdog. Sharp bettors know this not to be the case and thus bet on the underdog in an effort to win extraordinary profits.
While we won’t say that this is a great strategy to follow all the time, we will say that you need to stay on your toes for those times where the numbers at NBA betting sites just don’t add up.
Live Odds NBA
Live bets are wagers placed on matches that are currently in-play. Live betting offers you a whole new range of betting opportunities. Many of the bets are similar to those available before the game, but some NBA sportsbooks let you go as far as betting on the next play.
A lot of gamblers love live bets because you get almost immediate results and you can make a lot of money is a short space of time if luck is on your side. However, it is important not to get carried away with these bets.
Some people get so tied up with NBA live betting that it seems that they’ve got more of a gambling problem than placing an odd wager for entertainment purposes. You don’t want to be that person.
Win the Game – NBA Finals Betting Odds
As far as NBA playoffs betting lines go, there is none more exciting than those for the NBA Championship. When the biggest event in the basketball comes around, sportsbooks make sure to offer lines to suit every bettor’s needs. Also, NBA Championship betting odds are always very competitive!
Many new sports bettors want to know how to be on NBA final specifically because of all the new props that get introduced for the series. Well, on that we say that you need to make sure you do your research. Also avoid making too many exotic bets, even if some of them seem funny. Rather focus on NBA spreads and totals so the biggest event in basketball can be profitable for you too.
NBA Betting Apps
There is a growing demand for NBA sports apps that allow you to place wagers or track stats in the league. Many sportsbooks allow you to engage in online NBA gambling through your mobile web browser and some that even allow you to stream games.
This means that you can place bets on big games even if you’re stuck at work doing overtime and have no way of getting to your desktop in time to make your wager. You’re always covered (something that we can’t say for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the spread.)
NBA History
The NBA was initiated in 1946 in New York City, and it is the premier men’s professional basketball league globally. The National Basketball Association is an energetic associate of USA Basketball.
The league went from 11 franchises to eight in the 1950s. The 24-second shot clock was applied in 1954. In the 1960s, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell became the greatest competitions in team sports. At the beginning of the 1964 season, the lane was broadened from 12 to 16 feet mainly due to the supremacy of Chamberlain. In the late 1960s, the league grew from 9 to 14 teams.
The NBA expanded quickly from the late 1960s into the mid-1970s and stretched to 18 franchises until four ABA contracts also joined the league to make 22 NBA teams by the 1976 season. Today, the NBA consisted of 30 teams with 29 in the United States and one in Canada.