The NBA is one of the most entertaining leagues to bet on thanks to its fast and furious pace and unrivaled intensity. Fortunately, there's no shortage of basketball betting options during the NBA's thrilling 82-game schedule. Multiple matchups are on the board, allowing bettors to wager on their favorite teams as well as bet on the big games on TV each night.

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In this guide, we'll teach you about the different kinds of NBA bets available and will share tips and strategies from our team of NBA experts to help you make better-informed wagers.

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HOW TO BET ON BASKETBALL LINES

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Like most major sports, there are endless ways to wager on basketball. The most popular forms of basketball betting are the moneyline, point spread, and Over/Under totals.

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BASKETBALL POINT SPREADS EXPLAINED​

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The point spread is the preferred odds market for many basketball bettors because it levels the difference in skill between the two teams. When calculating the perceived point spread between the two sides, oddsmakers analyze both teams and consider the venue, current form, and any critical injuries.

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The negative value indicates a point spread favorite, and that team must win the game by more than that spread to win for bettors. The underdog has a positive value in front of its point spread. Underdogs can either win outright or lose by less than that spread to generate winning bets.

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For example, the Los Angeles Lakers are -2.5 point spread favorites hosting the +2.5 underdog Toronto Raptors. For the Lakers to cover the spread, they must win the game by three points or more. For the Raptors to cover the spread, they must either win the game outright or lose by two points or less.

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Point spreads always have a second set of odds with them, known as the vig or the juice. They are the cost of placing a bet. Most point spreads have a vig of -110; to win $100, you need to risk $110. However, vig can be adjusted depending on current betting action and can vary from book to book.

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 BASKETBALL MONEYLINES

 

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Betting basketball moneylines is the most straightforward and basic betting market available, simply allowing you to bet on which team you think will win the game.

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Sportsbooks generate moneyline odds for a game based on each team's implied probability of winning. Basketball teams are not always evenly matched, and the moneyline odds will reflect those chances of victory.

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Sportsbooks most often display moneyline odds in hundreds (American odds). American odds show one team set as the favorite (indicated by a negative value) and one team designated as the underdog (positive value).

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For example, the Los Angeles Lakers are -130 moneyline favorites versus the Toronto Raptors, the +110 moneyline underdogs. Because the Lakers are the stronger team (56.52 percent chance of winning), for every $10 you wish to win betting on Los Angeles, you must risk $13 ($130 bet will win $100). Since the Raptors are the weaker team (47.62 percent implied probability), you can win $11 for every $10 risked ($100 bet will win $110).

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BASKETBALL OVER/UNDERS

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Another popular way to wager on basketball is via the Over/Under odds, also known as the total.

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Oddsmakers measure the matchup between two teams, looking at both offensive and defensive production, and set an expected total number of points scored by both sides for the game. Once a sportsbook sets that total, bettors can wager if the final score will go Over or Under that number.

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For example, the Over/Under total between the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors is 222.5 points.

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A bet on the Over requires the game's final score to total 223 points or more to win, while a bet on the Under needs 222 or fewer points.

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Like point spreads, both sides of the total – Over and Under – have attached vig, often set at -110. This value can adjust to betting action and may vary from book to book.

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PROP BETS: BETTING PLAYER PERFORMANCE & MORE

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Prop bets are a rapidly growing way to bet on basketball, allowing you to wager on different aspects of the game – not just the final score. 

NBA prop bets can focus on game events as well as a team's performance and individual player's performances. Examples of game and NBA player props odds include betting on the first team to 15 points, a team's total three-pointers made, or a player's combined points, rebounds, and assists.

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Listed below are Kevin Durant's and James Harden's over/under for total points scored in a single game. You must pick whether or not either player scores more than or less than the designated number set by the sportsbook. In this case, the Over/Under are both listed at -120, meaning the sportsbook favors neither scenario.

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There's no way this bet can be a push because of the half-point. If the game goes into overtime, the prop still counts as well.

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FUTURES: WIN TOTALS, MVP, and NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS

 

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Futures odds are long-running betting markets focused on overall results for a team or player, such as odds to win the NBA Finals and the player to be named NBA MVP. Another popular form of futures is season win totals, in which you can bet on whether a team will go Over or Under their set total of wins for the year.

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These odds often open before a season begins and will take bets throughout the schedule, adjusting to results and injuries, until the market is decided.

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Below are the odds of winning the NBA Finals. Odds will come out as early as the end of the season prior, and can usually be wagered on into the final round of the postseason. These types of lines will fluctuate and change throughout the NBA season depending on team performance, injuries, and roster transactions.