NBA Odds, Lines and Live Scores

NBA Betting Odds

Looking at odds for the first time can be a scary process. But just like everything else, practice makes perfect. We’ll teach you how to understand: 

• NBA betting odds
• How to bet on NBA games
• Dive into basketball’s betting language
• Increase your chances of winning wagers
• Ultimately grow your bankroll

By the end of this guide, if you’re not ready to make the right picks but want to wager, our NBA computer picks page can help. But before you place your first NBA bet, let’s go over what the experts already know.

How to Read NBA Odds

NBA odds are usually expressed in three different ways:

• Decimal (European) Odds
• Fractional (British) Odds 
• American Odds

How to Read Decimal NBA Odds

The most common format used by European sportsbooks are decimal odds. As the name implies, they are always positive and decimal numbers. 

Below is the formula for calculating the return and profit for decimal odds of 1.24.

So…what’s the difference between profit and return?

• Profit is how much money you won by placing your wager
• Return is how much profit you made plus your original wager amount

How to Read Fractional Odds for NBA

Used primarily in Ireland and the UK, fractions represent the profit you would earn for a successful bet. The following is the formula for calculating the profit for the fractional odds of 7/1:

How to Read American NBA Odds

American odds are the most common format used by top US sportsbooks. Odds start with either a minus (-) or a plus (+) and are always a whole number (+195, -130, -350, +225, etc.) 

The odds tell you how much you need to bet to win $100, which team is the underdog and which team is favorite.

• Positive (+) odds show the amount of profit for a $100 bet
• Negative (-) odds show the amount needed to bet to win $100

The positive odds are very easy to calculate. The odds represent how much you’ll win if you bet $100. In this example, we win $315. To calculate the payout for odds of +315, simply use the following formula:

For negative numbers, the value of the odds tells you how much you need to bet to win $100. In this scenario, we need to risk $145 to win $100. To calculate the payout for odds of -145, just apply the following formula.

What are the Different Types of NBA bets?

The leading online sportsbooks offer 200+ NBA betting options on a single basketball game. Commonly placed NBA bets include:

NBA Moneyline

For the most straightforward way to bet on an NBA game, look no further than the moneyline. It’s a prediction on which team wins the basketball game.The sportsbooks assess the two teams, determine an underdog and a favorite, and then release the moneyline odds. For example:

• Golden State Warriors +152 at SBK
• Boston Celtics -161 at Bet365

In this example, the Boston Celtics are the favorite. A $100 bet on the Boston Celtics would earn you a $62.11 profit if they won the game. On the other end, a $100 bet on the Golden State Warriors would earn you a $152 profit.

NBA Point Spread

This is the most popular NBA bet. The oddsmakers at NBA betting sites will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the teams, focusing on defensive and offensive stats, recent results, home advantage, head-to-head matchups, injuries and so on.

They determine which team is stronger, and they assign a points handicap to that team. This results in a point spread, and it allows the sportsbooks to offer similar odds on either team covering that spread.

• Golden State Warriors +3½ (-105) at BetMGM
• Boston Celtics -3½ (-115) at BetMGM

In this example, the sportsbooks have concluded that the Celtics are the favorite to win. You have two options:

• Bet on the Golden State Warriors +3½, meaning they would need to win the game or lose by no more than 3 points for the bet to pay off
• Bet on the Boston Celtics -3½, meaning they would need to win the game by 4 or more points for the wager to pay off

There is always a favorite and an underdog in an NBA game. If both teams are deemed to be evenly matched, there will not be a point spread, and you can simply bet on either team to win (moneyline.) That is known as a pick’em, and it is rare.

NBA Point Totals (Over & Under Wagers)

This is another popular NBA bet. You just need to estimate how many total points will be scored in a basketball game. The NBA sportsbooks will release a total points line on each game. For example:

• Over 210½ points (-105) at BetMGM
• Under 210½ points (-115) at BetMGM

If you expect the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors to combine for at least 211 points, you can bet on over. If you believe the game will see 210 points or fewer, you should bet on under.

There will be a standard total run line, but you will also find alternate total run lines (usually valued around -110 value on the odds.) They allow you to move the line up or down, which changes the odds. You will also find alternate point lines for both basketball teams.

How to Bet on NBA Props

NBA proposition bets provide you with hundreds of additional betting opportunities on any given basketball game. Prop bets focus on a proposition – whether something will happen during a game – and they are not usually tied to the result. Prop bets in basketball often fall into two distinct categories:

• Team Props/ Game Props
• Player Props

Player props concentrate on individual performance stats. You can bet on the total number of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-point field goals, etc. You can also bet on the following popular metrics:

• Made free throws
• Double double
• Triple double
• Points + Rebounds + Assists
• Steals + Blocks
• First Basket (player who scores the first field goal)
• Method of First Basket

Game props might include betting on the highest scoring quarter or first half or whether the game goes into overtime. You can also bet on the following game props:

• Team with the most three point field goals
• Team with the most made free throws
• Team with the least turnovers
• Team with the most blocks
• Team with the most steals
• Exact Margin of Victory
• Exact Score
• Team to Score the First Basket

How to Bet on NBA Futures Odds & Word Series Winner Odds

Sportsbooks release NBA futures odds on a range of markets in-sea before the season begins. These odds update often and will be available to bet on throughout the season. These are often season-long or playoff-long wagers, which do not depend upon the result of a single basketball game.

Examples of NBA futures bets include:

• Odds to win the NBA Championship
• Odds to win the Western Conference
• Odds to win the Eastern Conference
• Odds to win the Western Conference play-in game
• Odds to win the Eastern Conference play-in game
• Will team X make the playoffs?
• MVP
• Rookie of the Year
• Coach of the Year

The odds on these markets change over the length of the NBA season, depending upon how poorly or well the teams are playing.

How to Bet on a Specific Quarter and Half-Game Bets

You can also bet on a specific quarter or the first or second half of a basketball game. Sportsbooks release the same key betting options – spreads, totals, money lines and props – on quarters and both halves of a basketball game. See the following for an example of a “first half” bet:

• Golden State Warriors (+2½) at BetMGM
• Boston Celtics (-2½) at BetMGM

In this example, the Boston Celtics are the favorite. A $100 bet on the Boston Celtics would earn you a $83.33 profit if they won the first half, whereas a $100 bet on the Golden State Warriors would earn you a $120 profit. 

What other types of NBA Bets exist?

NBA Live Bets

NBA betting sites allow you to keep betting on games after they have started. This type of betting is also known as “live betting” because moneylines, the runlines, total points lines, props, and alternate lines will dynamically update as the basketball game progresses. 

You can continue betting until the game ends, but make sure to do your research. You want to avoid betting with your heart at all costs, if not, you’ll eventually deplete your bankroll.

Let’s say the Golden State Warriors are playing the Boston Celtics and the odds to start the game are as follows.

• Golden State +2½ -110
• Boston Celtics 2½ -110

Live odds are shown in green that take into account the current game score. Bettors can then hedge wagers if the game slips away from one team.

Parlay Betting

A parlay bet lets you combine predictions on multiple games into a single wager. For example, let’s say you like these two bets:

• Boston Celtics (-3.5) 
• Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors (Under 210 Total Points) 

If you combined them into a two-team $100 parlay, you would earn a profit of $244.17. The winnings from each leg roll over onto the next leg, meaning the profit compounds inside the parlay, leading to large payouts. However, if one leg fails, the parlay fails and you lose the wager. Alternative options include:

• Teasers
• Progressive Parlays
• Reverse Bets
• Same Game Parlays
• Round Robins

NBA Betting FAQs

Can I bet on NBA games Legally?

You can bet on NBA games legally in many different states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Nevada, and Illinois. Just one piece of advice – please sign up with a licensed online sportsbook such as PointsBet, BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, or Caesars Sportsbook.

What are the key dates for the NBA 2022-23 season?

• Golden State Warriors vs Washington Wizards (NBA Japan Games): Sept. 30 & Oct. 2 2022
• Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks (NBA Abu Dhabi Games): Oct. 6 & Oct. 8 2022
• NBA Season Opening Night: October 2022
• NBA All Star Game: February 17th-19th, 2023
• Play-in Games: April 2023
• First Round of Playoffs: April 2023
• Second Round of Playoffs: April – May 2023
• Conference Championship: May 2023
• NBA Championship: May – June 2023

What are the best NBA betting sites?

The highest rated NBA betting sites include FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars Sportsbook, and BetMGM. If you are looking for a broad variety of bets and useful features, Draftkings is a great option, while Caesars Sportsbook is the best for odds boosts and bonuses.

What are the best sportsbook apps for NBA betting?

DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are the top ranked sportsbook apps for NBA betting. They all have elite reviews on the App Store and Google Play. 

How do I bet on NBA games?

You can bet on NBA games by downloading a sports betting app or visiting an online sportsbook website. You can browse a range of betting options, including totals, moneylines, run lines, either for the full game, a specific quarter or first/second half, etc.

How do I make money betting on the NBA?

For most people it takes years of experience to perfect the art of betting on the NBA. At the start of the basketball season, establish your bankroll (set an amount of money you’d like to bet with.) Sports gambling professionals are very disciplined at managing their bankroll. This helps them stay in the game and not run out of money if they go on a losing streak. 

Before placing a bet, make sure to do your research, here’s some ideas of things to look at:

• Starting Lineups
• Bench Strength
• Head to Head Results
• Team Against the Spread (ATS) Records
• Regular Season Stats
• Recent Games (is the team on a losing or a winning streak?)
• Past and Future Travel Schedule
• Head to Head Trends

What to consider before placing a bet?

There are many things you should consider before placing a bet on an NBA game. Amongst these things are:

• Line Movements
• Key Injuries
• Best Odds
• Public Betting Consensus

How important are NBA Injuries for handicapping?

Rule number one of handicapping sports – never place a bet unless you know who’s playing. This might seem obvious but who’s active for the game has a massive impact on the odds. When the game day status of key players like an all star player like Lebron James are unknown most sportsbooks will not release the odds to the public.

What is the NBA Public Betting Consensus?

The consensus generally refers to which team the majority of the public is placing bets on. It’s not uncommon for popular teams to receive 75% or more of the wagers. This can cause problems for the sportsbooks and opportunities for handicappers who know how to take advantage of these situations.

What does a spread of +12.5 points mean when placing a bet on an NBA game?

It means that an NBA team is a 12.5-point underdog in the spread betting market. If you bet on that team to cover the spread, they must win the game or lose by up to 12 points for the bet to pay off. 

Can I bet on basketball online?

You can bet on basketball online in a handful of states including West Virginia, New Jersey, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Colorado, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. Sportsbooks offers websites and mobile apps for NBA and general basketball bettors.

Can I bet on a non-basketball sport online?

Yes, you can bet on non-basketball sports online in the states listed above! The most popular sports to bet on are NCAAB, NCAAF, MLB, and NFL. You can also bet on the following sports (and more): 

• Soccer
• UFC
• Boxing
• Hockey
• Tennis
• Hockey
• Golf