Betting on NBA games can be an exciting way to add a competitive element to your viewing experience, but it can also be intimidating if you’re not sure how to read and understand the odds or NBA betting lines that you see. But don’t worry—with this guide, you can quickly learn how to understand the nuances of betting on the NBA. Before you know it, you’ll be predicting which teams and players will come out on top.
What are NBA Betting Lines?
NBA betting lines are the lines that appear on sportsbook websites that you can use to place bets about which team will win in a given NBA game. These lines include a variety of information, and we’ll go into that in more detail below. To get started, it will help to understand the different types of betting lines that may be available:
- Point Spreads: Point spreads are the lines you see that will list one team as being a certain number of points ahead or behind of their opponent.
- Money Lines: Money lines are the odds assigned to a particular team that you can use to wager on the outcome of a game.
- Totals: Totals are the lines that suggest the total number of points scored in a given game.
How to Read NBA Betting Lines
Now that you know the different types of NBA betting lines, it’s time to learn how to read them. Let’s start with an example of a point spread betting line.
- Team A -5.5 (indicates that Team A is favored by 5.5 points)
- Team B +5.5 (indicates that Team B is an underdog by 5.5 points)
In this example, if you bet on Team A and they win, you must win by more than 5.5 points for you to win your bet. If you bet on Team B and they win, you win if they win the game or lose by fewer than 5.5 points. This is how point spreads work.
Money Lines
The money line works differently from point spread betting lines. In a money line bet, the amount of money that is bet is always the same, regardless of the spread. The amount of money won depends on the odds set for the particular team. Let’s look at an example of the money line betting line for a particular game:
- Team A –200 (indicates that Team A is favored to win and requires a risk of $200 to win $100)
- Team B +200 (indicates that Team B is an underdog and requires a risk of $100 to win $200)
In this example, if you bet on Team A and they win, you’ll receive a return of $300 (your initial bet of $200 plus a win of $100). If you bet on Team B and they win, you’ll receive a return of $400 (your initial bet of $100 plus a win of $200).
Totals
Finally, let’s have a look at the totals betting lines. A totals betting line will specify the total number of points scored in a particular game. The bet is on whether the total number of points scored will be over or under the specified number.
- Over 220.5 (You win if the total score is more than 220.5)
- Under 220.5 (You win if the total score is less than 220.5)
Conclusion
NBA betting lines can be a great way to add an extra layer of excitement to watching your favorite team. With this guide, you now have the essential knowledge of how to read and understand the different types of betting lines that are available. Get out there and start placing your bets!
What is a money line in NBA betting?
A money line in NBA betting is a type of wager in which the bettor simply picks a team based on the odds of their victory rather than relying on a point spread. The return of the wager is determined by the odds of the winning team; typically, the greater the risk, the greater the return. Money line wagers typically involve wagering on the outright winner of a game.
What happens if a money line bet in the NBA ties?
If a money line bet in the NBA ties, the wager is generally declared a ‘push.’ A push means that the sport book refunds the amount wagered on the money line in full.
What types of bets typically result in a tie in the NBA?
The most common type of bets that typically result in a tie in the NBA are point spread bets and over/under bets. For a point spread bet, if the final score exactly matches the point spread, the bet is a tie or push and the bettor gets his or her money back. For an over/under bet, if the final score exactly matches the over/under line, the bet is also a tie or push and the bettor also gets his or her money back.