If you’re trying to learn how to bet on NBA games, you’re not alone. The NBA is one of the most popular sports for bettors – the season is long, games are played almost every night, and it offers spreads, moneylines, and totals like NFL betting. Many bettors enjoy NBA odds during the NFL season and keep betting all the way until the Finals in June.
With 30 NBA teams each playing 82 games, understanding the odds, props, and futures available opens up thousands of opportunities throughout the year.
Before you dive in, it’s important to understand how NBA betting works and how sportsbooks present the lines to players. This guide on how to bet on NBA games will get you started, and then you can jump into the Bovada NBA odds.
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How to Read NBA Betting Lines
Learning how to read NBA lines is the first step toward becoming a confident bettor.
U.S. sportsbooks use American odds. You’ll see them displayed with either a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-).
A minus sign indicates the favorite. The number beside it tells you how much you would need to wager to win $100 in profit.
For example:
- Team A -150
- Team B +130
In this example, Team A is favored to win the game. A $150 wager would return $100 in profit if Team A wins.
The plus sign identifies the underdog. The number beside it shows how much profit you would earn from a $100 wager.
Using the example above, a $100 bet on Team B at +130 would generate $130 in profit if the underdog wins.
You’ll also notice that many spread and total bets have no number next to them. These wagers are automatically -110. This standard “10 cents” extra is commonly known as the juice or vig, a sportsbook’s commission for offering odds.
Contrary to popular opinion, sportsbooks aren’t trying to win one side of a sports bet; instead, they want balance on both sides, which removes risk and guarantees the “juice” from all sides.
Long story short, always focus on the minuses and the pluses in American odds, and you’ll understand how much you have to risk to turn a profit. And when you see no money attached, remember it’s the standard -110.
NBA Point Spread Betting Explained
If you want to start betting and understanding NBA betting the right way, start with the point spread.
Unlike a moneyline bet, where you simply pick the winner, a spread bet introduces a handicap designed to make both sides of a matchup more attractive.
The favorite must win by more than the listed spread for that bet to win. The underdog can either win the game outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.
For example, imagine a sportsbook lists the following:
- Favorite -6.5
- Underdog +6.5
If the favorite wins by seven points or more, the favorite covers the spread.
If the favorite wins by six points or less, or loses the game, the underdog covers the spread.
You’ll often hear bettors use the phrase “covering the spread.” This simply means the spread landed in favor of their selected side after applying the handicap.
Then you have a push. A push occurs when the final score lands exactly on the spread. If a team is favored by six points and wins by exactly six, it’s a push, and the sportsbook refunds your risk amount.
Point spreads are important in the NBA because talent gaps can be extreme. Combine this with a grueling schedule, injuries, and generally better play at home than on the road, and the ability to offer a handicap balances the matchups for bettors when moneyline bets carry too many risks or offer too little reward.
We guarantee you’ll start betting against the spread over moneylines once you have a clear understanding.
If you’re ready to compare current lines, you can explore NBA spread betting at Bovada.
NBA Player Props: What You Need to Know Before Betting
Player props have become one of the fastest-growing NBA wagers.
A player prop is a wager based on an individual player’s performance rather than the outcome of the game itself. It’s the fantasy sports side of NBA betting.
Instead of betting on a team to win, you might bet on whether a player finishes over or under a projected statistical total.
Common NBA player props include:
- Points scored
- Rebounds
- Assists
- Three-pointers made
Sportsbooks may also offer combination props that blend multiple categories together. Such as whether Victor Wembanyama will go over or under 43.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists.
Before placing a player prop wager, it’s important to evaluate several factors:
- Recent form is often a good starting point. Has the player consistently exceeded his average points per game in the last five games?
- Matchups also matter. Certain opponents defend specific positions more effectively than others.
- Minutes played can be equally important. A player receiving significant court time usually fills the stat sheet.
- Injuries can affect an entire team depending on how impactful a player is. Even minor injuries can affect playing time, usage, or overall effectiveness.
Many bettors also use advanced analytics and performance trends when evaluating props. To learn more about the numbers behind basketball betting, check out the NBA betting stats guide.
NBA Team Totals vs Game Totals: What is the Difference?
Totals betting is another popular option for NBA fans. A game total, often called an over/under, focuses on the combined score of both teams. The oddsmaker sets a projected number, and bettors decide whether the final combined score will finish over or under that total.
For example, if the total is set at 220.5 points:
- Over wins if the teams combine for 221 points or more.
- Under wins if the teams combine for 220 points or less.
There are also team totals, which are over/under bets on a single team rather than both teams combined.
For example, a sportsbook may set a New York Knicks total at 112.5 points. Your wager only depends on whether that team scores above or below the listed number.
Remember that all game totals include overtime, and there are no ties in the NBA. So, if you’ve taken the under and the game is a nail-biter, pray it’s put away in four quarters. Consult our NBA overtime rules guide for more details.
What is NBA Betting?
NBA betting is when you’re wagering on games and events involving the National Basketball Association.
The NBA is the premier pro basketball league in the U.S. and features 30 teams competing across an 82-game regular season. The season begins in October and concludes in June with the NBA Finals.
Sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NBA odds:
- Moneyline bets
- Point spread bets
- Over/under totals
- Team totals
- Player props
- Futures bets
Moneyline wagers focus on picking the winner. Spread bets involve a points handicap. Totals focus on the final combined score of both teams. Player props focus on a player’s individual stats. And futures allow bettors to predict season-long outcomes, such as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Because an NBA season is packed with games throughout the year, there are thousands of odds to sink your teeth into and explore all the odds and options.
NBA Betting: Frequently Asked Questions
How does NBA betting work?
Choose between an NBA moneyline, point spread, or over/under and place a wager on the outcome. Moneyline bets are on teams to win; NBA spreads are handicaps a team needs to cover; and the over/under is the total combined score between both squads. If that isn’t exciting enough, there are player and team props available for every game and futures when you want to predict regular-season awards.
What does the spread mean in NBA betting?
The spread is a points handicap created by the sportsbook to balance a matchup. The favorite must win by more than the listed spread; the underdog can lose by less than the listed spread or win straight up.
How do NBA player props work?
A player prop is a wager based on an individual player’s statistics in a game. Common examples include points, rebounds, assists, and three-pointers made. See the NBA Player Props section above for more details.
What is the difference between NBA team totals and game totals?
A game total focuses on the combined score of both teams. A team total focuses on the scoring output of just one team.
Does overtime count in NBA betting?
For most standard NBA betting markets, yes, overtime counts toward the final result. Bettors should always review the specific market rules before placing a wager, and can learn more in the NBA overtime rules guide.
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