So you wanna be a big baller when it comes to NBA betting, huh? Well, let’s just say there’s more to it than knowing your Lakers from your Clippers if you want to slam dunk your way to some successful wagers. That’s right, it’s time for how to bet on the NBA 101!
Betting sites to bet on NBA: compare the best offers
To bet on NBA you need to have a betting account first. If you don’t have it, you can compare the bookmakers sites India before to choose the good one for you.
NBA Betting Explained
Each sport has a specific betting market, and the NBA odds would differ depending on the market that you opt for. As for cycling, horse racing or football, also the NBA has some distinct betting markets available for you to bet on basketball.
Money Line
If you hear about the ‘Money Line’ in a betting context and find it confusing, it’s likely because you’re used to European sports betting terminology. Don’t worry, there’s really nothing complicated about the Money Line market – it just means the match winner.
Its usage is not limited to NBA betting or basketball betting. In fact it’s a common expression used when betting on other traditionally North American sports like ice hockey, baseball or American football too. You can’t bet on a tie in the money line betting market, so your bet stands if the game goes to overtime.
You can bet on the outcome of a single match if you wish, although the odds are often short, especially if you back the favoured team. At odds of lower than evens (2.0), you are risking more money than you stand to win. That doesn’t mean it’s never a good idea to bet on favourites, it’s just something to bear in mind.
Another option is to combine several money line selections into an accumulator, or as they say in North America, a parlay bet. Although it’s more challenging to correctly predict the outcome of several matches, the potential rewards make it worthwhile to try this kind of bet when you’ve got a good feeling about several matches.
As you’re learning how to bet on the NBA, you’ll discover some of your favourite teams to pick in your NBA accas over time.
Spread
In the case of mismatches, where one basketball side is favoured heavily in the NBA betting predictions, you may find more value in betting on the point spread. It is the equivalent of a handicap bet on football (soccer) or cricket.
The main point spread is established in the build-up to a game and represents a wager that is relatively close to a 50/50 shot. As you can see in this NBA betting example, Cleveland Cavaliers start with a 9-point handicap in their match against Orlando Magic.
| 10/11 | Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-9.0) | 10/11 |
|---|
The odds on both sides are 10/11, which is close to even money, although it’s still odds-on, so you can’t back both outcomes and guarantee a profit. Let’s see how the points spread market would be settled according to the outcome of the game itself:
| Game outcome | Orlando Magic +9.0 bet | Cleveland Cavaliers -9.0 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Magic win or Cavaliers win by less than 9 points | WIN | LOSE |
| Cavaliers win by exactly 9 points | PUSH | PUSH |
| Cavaliers win by more than 9 points | LOSE | WIN |
The more significant the perceived difference in level between the two teams, the higher the points handicap received by the favoured team. In some cases, we’re talking as low as one or two points. However it’s also common to see double-digit handicaps when one team is clearly superior. This is something that you will see a lot during the regular season, but it’s very rare when it comes to the NBA Finals odds.
Sometimes, a half-point unit is used in the point spread, eliminating the possibility of a push. Some sportsbooks offer additional handicap lines, giving you greater choice about the bet you want to put on.
The point spread is an exciting way to bet on the NBA as, when betting on the favourite, winning the game isn’t enough. Even if your team has the lead, you will be cheering them on to get as far ahead as possible and cover the spread. The potential returns are also higher compared to the money line, in the case of the favoured team.
Total Points
Total points are similar to the point spread in that it’s a two-outcome market with close to 50/50 options. A points line is set, and punters can wager on the total points in the game being either over or under that amount.
For an average NBA betting match, the total points over/under line is between 195 and 220 points, depending on how high-scoring the oddsmakers think the game is likely to be. That’s a big range, so clearly, a lot of thought and calculation goes into the process of creating the market to enable betting on the NBA.
Other basketball competitions may vary, as they have some different rules which affect the number of points scored, most notably the game length. We’ll look at these differences in more detail later on, after we finish covering how to bet on the NBA in full.
Alternative game totals are also often available with some bookmakers, allowing you to adjust the line to suit your fancy. If it sounds like we’re repeating ourselves from the previous section, that’s because it’s true. Coverage of basketball betting markets varies significantly from one bookmaker to another. Some give it the full works, while others are content to offer just the basic markets.
Futures And Outrights
Like with any major sporting competition, you can bet on NBA future markets. Betting opens well before the preseason and remains open throughout the season, all the way through to the finals, and NBA betting predictions will take into account the form of teams, and other factors such as injuries to crucial players.The NBA Championship odds would rise and fall throughout the season so it is important for the punter to utilise the best time to get their value.
The most obvious and easy to understand kind of outright bet relates to the winner of the championship or tournament. It gives you an extra reason to follow your selected team’s progress, particularly if they put together a good run of form and start to look like strong challengers, just think about the Toronto Raptors last season and how their run of form projected them to the championship.
The downside? You have to put down your money at the moment you place your bet when betting on the NBA, and you only receive winnings once it has been settled. Depending on the length of the competition you bet on, that could be a long wait!
At the start of the season, it’s hard to predict how to bet on the NBA outright markets. It’s not always clear how teams will perform, meaning there are longer odds available when betting on the NBA. You could back multiple selections and still guarantee a profit if one of them wins.
Special NBA betting outrights include the MVP award and betting on the winner of a division or group. This one is easier to forecast as there is a smaller selection of teams.
NBA Betting Odds Explained
NBA Championship Odds
The most common way that punters get involved with betting on the NBA is by placing a stake on the team that they believe will win the NBA Championship. A host of considerations can be taken into betting on this, with many opting to follow the events over the summer months and keeping up to date with trades before placing their wager.
However, there will of course be those that simply bet on a team to win the NBA Championship because it’s their team. That plan has worked in the past, just remember the UK team Leicester City winning thousands of pounds for a handful of their fans when their side won the Premier League. Undoubtedly it isn’t the most educated tactic, but it is a way for punters to win money to add to their joy of their team winning the championship.
Reading the NBA Championships isn’t particularly difficult and follows the trend of all major competitions. The favoured sides will be priced at lower prices, while those who aren’t even expected to reach the playoffs could be priced at triple-digit figures. For example, the favourites for next season’s championship are currently the Los Angeles Clippers.
This comes after the Clippers managed to sign Kawhi Leonard from the Toronto Raptors. The second favourites are the Los Angeles Lakers, and a big factor for that is LeBron James. Last season’s historic winners the Toronto Raptors are currently priced as rank outsiders due to Leonard departing the franchise. However many NBA tips may offer enticement that they could be a better side this season.
NBA Playoff Odds
The regular season is only half of the fun in the NBA, because the real competition doesn’t get started until the playoffs begin. Here, eight teams from the respective divisions qualify to the post-season knockout competition, and home form is crucial. Each regional conference will play out a first round, semi-final and then a final to decide who will progress through to the NBA Championship final.
Each of these games are best of seven, but if a team goes 4-0 up then they will have the remainder of the time off before having to play their next fixture. That in itself is a continuous issue that you must decide on when betting on the NBA. Some would consider more time off as bonus, while others see it as a negative as they could become lacklustre next time they are on the court.
NBA Finals Odds
Once the teams have been decided through the respective conference finals, they will meet in the NBA Championship game. The gruelling seven-game series often goes down to the bitter ending and some of the most remarkable stories have been made in the past over these seven games. This also offers incentives for basketball betting predictions for the comings season, as the two favourites at this time are both from Los Angeles and can’t meet in the Championship game.
The series as we mentioned before is played over seven-games once again, and each time will play at home and away. The team that opens the series at home is decided by which franchise had the best regular season record. The team with the worst record will open the series, while the team with the best will have home court advantage in the seventh. Both are crucial elements to remember when betting on the NBA.
NBA Betting Strategies
So now you know the main options for NBA betting and how to bet on the NBA, here are a few friendly tips to help optimise your success. Anyone who wants to find value in their basketball betting tips needs to be well prepared to give themselves the best chance possible.
Heed the stats
American sports have long placed great importance on keeping detailed statistics, something which has only grown in European football over the last decade or so. As such, you can find plenty of information online to find value in NBA betting markets, whether it be on a player or teams performance.
Pick a favourite market
As we mentioned above, there are a few main options for how to bet on the NBA:
- money line
- points spread
- and total points.
Sometimes it’s easier to get a feel for one of these, rather than trying to be a specialist in every area when betting on the NBA.
A good starting point is to check out stats relating to that market. Then either start betting with small stakes or even just record your predictions if you don’t feel ready to put money down yet. In either case, you will see how your predictions stack up against the reality. If you are consistently able to make correct predictions on one market, it might be that you’ve got a knack for this type of bet.
Don’t forget home advantage
Like in a lot of sports leagues, playing at home is an advantage which can make a difference in NBA betting. Take the Denver Nuggets as an example. There’s a reason Denver are known as the “Mile-High City”, because it has an altitude of 1,600 metres. Acclimatising to that altitude is no easy task for visiting teams, meaning the Nuggets have a disproportionately strong home record, even against supposedly stronger teams. It is essential to read up on pieces of information like this before staking money on the NBA betting markets.
In case you weren’t already aware, visiting teams are listed first in the NBA schedule and in betting markets on most sportsbooks. Don’t get confused about this and double-check in case the sportsbook lists the teams the other way round – it has been known to happen.
Get the best odds
If you’re serious about betting, this must become second nature to you. Even a small difference in odds makes a difference in the long run, so you should always make sure to get the best odds available on your preferred selection before betting on the NBA.
Research for the best sites for basketball, and you will find various websites boasting that they offer the best NBA betting tips. It helps to have a few different accounts open and topped up with a small amount of cash, so you are ready to get on before the odds disappear. It will certainly make a difference in your long-term results when betting on the NBA.
Of course, you may just be looking for a bit of fun and not too bothered about finding the best NBA betting tips. It is all well and good, it’s up to you after all. In that case, just choose the bookmaker you enjoy betting with most and make sure they offer the kind of market you want to bet on.
Have Multiple Bookmaker Accounts For Your NBA Betting
When it comes to betting on sport, no bookmaker will provide you with the same odds. This means that you will be constantly shopping around looking to get the best value. It is always a smart idea to have multiple betting accounts just in case you see a power boosted price on a market that interests you and you want to take advantage of it immediately.
It is better to have money in there also, because you don’t want to run the risk of missing out on an offer which could be substantial. This means that it is incredibly convenient for all punters to have multiple betting accounts for their NBA betting.
Not only NBA: other basketball competitions to bet on
It’s no secret the NBA is the biggest basketball league in the world unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for most of your life! However, it’s far from the only basketball event you can bet on. There are many events played under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules too.
Interestingly, NBA rules differ in several ways from those put in place by the FIBA. A few examples include:
- Court size
- Match length
- Player foul limit
Let’s look at the best basketball competitions to bet on apart from the NBA.
Olympic Games & World Cup
These national tournaments are above all a chance to see the stars of the NBA united to represent their country, rather than facing off against each other as they usually do. Ever since the Dream Team stormed to gold at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, there has been particularly big hype about the USA team participating in international tournaments.
While the USA frequently dominates at the Olympic Games and World Cup tournaments, there have been occasions where they have failed to live up to the hype. Especially during the early 2000s where they went from 2002 to 2006 without capturing a title. That would be something to keep an eye on in 2019 when the US side will head to the World Cup.
Another reason to be careful when wagering on these tournaments is that NBA teams are sometimes reluctant to let their best players participate, afraid of them incurring an injury. As you can imagine, that has a big impact on the team’s chances of winning.
EuroLeague & EuroCup
A little closer to home, Europe also hosts some fine basketball clubs and players. The EuroLeague is the basketball equivalent of the Champions League, with the continent’s best clubs battling it out for the title.
There are less EuroLeague matches than in an NBA season, bearing in mind the clubs also compete in their own domestic league. The EuroLeague format has changed several times over the years, with a 16-team regular season introduced in 2016-2017.
OK, so the EuroLeague doesn’t get as much media attention as the NBA, but you can still find broadcasters in most countries who screen it. Some bookmakers also live stream matches for free, as long as you have funds or an open bet in your account. A major advantage is that the games are screened at a reasonable time, rather than in the middle of the night like the NBA, due to the time difference. That makes it easier to follow the action and bet in-play while watching.
Although it’s a second-tier competition, the EuroCup is also growing in quality and exposure every year. The winners qualify automatically for the following season’s EuroLeague.
How We Selected Our Bookmakers For NBA Betting
When it comes to finding a place for all your NBA betting needs, it really couldn’t be more straightforward. We are dedicated to Indian operators that ensure NBA betting is a leading sport on their platform, as opposed to just another sport to say that they offer. Bookmakers such as William Hill, Betfred and Ladbrokes go above and beyond when it comes to the NBA services they offer.
As well as offering live streaming and in-play betting, they have a variety of betting markets and offers with competitive odds. They ensure that the NBA is covered for diehard fans. The comprehensive coverage that they give to basketball ensures that they are the leaders for Indian players looking to maximise their returns on NBA betting.
Bet on the NBA conclusion
Now that you have read this guide, you will understand how to bet on the NBA matches. You should be able to calculate the profit from your bets. And, you should be able to make the best-informed bets possible!
Other sports to bet on
Once you placed your bet on the NBA game of your choice and are waiting for the out come, take advantage of your betting account to place bets on other sports and events.