Joe began writing for Basketball Insiders at the start of 2023. A keen sports fanatic ever since his first days playing football in junior school, he has developed a flair for writing over the coming years, and graduated with a BA in English Literature. His professional background in the gambling and sports industries now extends to five years, mostly covering horse racing and US sports. He has previously written for sites such as gg.co.uk and cheltenhamfestival.net on the horse racing side, having grown passionate about the sport by visiting his local tracks on a regular basis. As well as this, he has the honor of being published in the Royal Ascot magazine in 2019.
All posts by Joe Napier
Following his graduation with an Honors in Business Administration, Nick redirected his focus from conventional stocks and bonds to the world of sports team performance investments. He employs a unique blend of advanced statistics and historical data to construct intricate sports investment models, pinpointing value opportunities and consistently yielding profits. Nick's contributions extend beyond a single platform, as his work can be discovered on outlets such as Pistons Powered, Winners And Whiners, and numerous other publications.
All posts by Nick RaffoulDesigned to keep games competitive when there are heavy betting favorites/ underdogs, NBA betting spreads are America’s most popular basketball game line, driving hopeful gamblers to market to wager on games they otherwise might not.
Spread betting can appear difficult to newcomers to sportsbook gambling and especially when betting on the NBA, as there are so many options available. However, once you understand a few key points that we will explain in this article, you will see it’s actually pretty straightforward.
NBA Spread Betting Explained
The point spread challenges bettors to wager on how many points team X will win or lose by. For example, if the NBA spread is Houston Rockets (+5.5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-5.5), the Rockets need to win the game or lose by less than 6 points for your bet to payout. If you wagered on the Lakers in the same game, L.A. would need to win by 6 clear points for your bet to payout.
In a nutshell, this is a point spread betting NBA games explained – it’s just a way of evening the playing ‘court’ slightly.
There are, however, countless variations of the spread, particularly when concerning a league like the NBA, which so readily lends itself to the fast-paced world of NBA live betting on the spread. Let’s look at how to bet on NBA spreads.
NBA Spread Betting on the Quarter
Following the same principle as spread betting on the game, here bettors are challenged to predict the point differential at the end of a specific quarter. Generally, the differential is lower than it is at the end of the game since less time has elapsed, so expect to see spreads at +3.5/-3.5, etc. Other than that, it’s the exact same concept as detailed earlier.
NBA Spread Betting on the Half
This is the same as the others (game and quarter), only this time, a bettor is wagering on the point differential at the half.
Alternate NBA Spread Betting Markets:
The premier NBA spread betting sites, such as Bovada, DraftKings, and BetUS also enable bettors to select a spread option that they feel is most likely, as opposed to just the one option gifted to them by the oddsmakers.
Some sportsbooks may offer alternate spreads before a match starts but many sites like BetUS and Bovada will only offer them once live-in-play betting begins.
NBA Betting Spread: Over-Time
Occasionally, when a game is tied, overtime is necessary to get a winner. It’s possible to spread bet solely on the point differential during overtime on most of the best NBA spread betting apps. But, it is worth mentioning that should you have wagered on a game spread, overtime is added, giving you a second chance to hit the spread.
Fanduel and MyBookie are solid examples of sportsbooks that have this option available as part of their NBA spread betting platter.
Latest NBA News
NBA
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Out At Least 2 Games Due To Knee Injury
The Boston Celtics said Friday that veteran forward Jaylen Brown will miss at least two games after he was diagnosed with a bone bruise with posterior impingement in his right knee. Jaylen Brown Has Dealt With Multiple Injuries This Season Brown sat out Friday night’s 121-99 win against the Utah Jazz and will miss Sunday’s […]
NBA
How To Watch Bucks vs. Kings Free Live Stream
The Sacramento Kings (35-34, 30-38-1 ATS) are playing host to the Milwaukee Bucks (40-30, 34-35-1 ATS) in this cross-conference showdown on Saturday night; check out how to watch the free live stream below. NBA betting sites show the Kings as 1-point favorites at home, according to BetOnline odds. How To Watch Bucks vs. Kings Free Live […]
NBA
How To Watch Bulls vs. Lakers Free Live Stream
The Chicago Bulls (30-40, 35-34-1 ATS) are at the Los Angeles Lakers (43-26, 39-29-1) in this interconference matchup on Saturday night; check out how to watch the free live stream online below. NBA betting sites show the Lakers as 9.5-point favorites at home, per the latest BetOnline odds. How To Watch Bulls vs. Lakers Free Live […]
NBA
Crips Gang Leader Defrauded Shaquille O’Neal, Draymond Green
Eugene “Big U” Henley, a Crips gang leader who helped launch Nipsey Hussle’s career and was dubbed rap’s “godfather,” has been accused of murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion and fraud, federal authorities announced Wednesday. Authorities Arrested 10 Rollin’ 60s Gang Members, Associates Henley’s alleged victims “were required to ‘check in’” with him before arriving in Los […]
NBA
Warriors’ Stephen Curry Has Pelvic Contusion, No Structural Damage
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry underwent an MRI that confirmed the 16-year veteran guard suffered a pelvic contusion and no structural damage, the team announced Friday. Stephen Curry To Miss Start Of The Warriors’ Six-Game Road Trip Curry will miss the start of the Warriors’ six-game road trip, which starts at Atlanta on Saturday […]
NBA
Ty Lawson, Marcus Thorton Respond To Brandon Jennings’ 1-on-1 Challenge
Former NBA player Brandon Jennings is getting a lot of responses after he said, “Jrue Holiday was never better than me in the game of basketball” and that he wants to play Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, and Lou Williams in a one-on-one challenge. Ty Lawson Thinks Brandon Jennings’ 55-Point Game Was A Fluke In a […]
College Basketball
How To Watch March Madness 2025 With Free Live Stream
The 2025 NCAA Tournament for men’s basketball kicked off Thursday with 16 first-round games and another 16 games scheduled for Friday; check out how to watch the March Madness games with a free live stream below. Sportsbooks currently show No. 1 seed Duke as the outright favorite, per the latest BetOnline odds. How To Watch March […]
College Basketball
No. 11 Drake Upsets No. 6 Missouri in First Round of NCAA Tournament
The 11th-seeded Drake Bulldogs stunned the No. 6-seed Missouri Tigers on Thursday night, winning 67-57 in the First Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect this,” said first-year Drake head coach Ben McCollum after the Bulldogs picked up their first […]
NBA
How To Watch Cavaliers vs. Suns Free Live Stream
The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (56-13, 42-26-1 ATS) in the Eastern Conference are visiting the Phoenix Suns (33-37, 28-41-1 ATS) in this cross-conference matchup on Friday night; check out how to watch the free live stream below. NBA betting sites show the Cavs as 7.5-point favorites on the road, according to BetOnline odds. How To Watch Cavaliers […]
Where to Locate NBA Betting Spread Free Predictions
With wagering on the NBA now common practice across the country, there’s really no need to be coughing up your hard-earned dollars to get your NBA Picks from oddsmaking specialists. There is all manner of sportsbooks, sports broadcasters, fan forums, etc. on the internet from which you can get your NBA betting spread free predictions and all the analytics you can shake a stick at.
Free NBA Picks are available on ESPN, which works in tandem with William Hill’s NBA betting odds. FOXBET is another trusted provider of free picks, not to mention some of the sites listed on the page, such as BetUS, MyBookie, and Bovada, which all contain great, expert advice on NBA gambling markets from the spread to the NBA Draft.
Sportsbooks are launching an assault for your trust as they expand out into new American states and, as such, transparency and the help provided by these sportsbooks in the forms of picks, blogs, vlogs, and the like has never been higher. A few of our favorite sites to frequent for spread betting tips and useful stats are as follows:
- DK Nation (Draftkings tips and forums, etc)
- BetUS (Free NBA Picks)
- MyBookie (Free NBA Picks)
- ESPN.com (chocked full of basketball stats)
- NBA.com (all the stats and all the latest news coming out of the NBA)
- IG Tipping Pages
- NBA Twitter Picks
And we’ll have to shamelessly plug ourselves here, too:
- Basketball Insiders (we aren’t directly affiliated with any major sportsbook in particular, so the advice we do give is generally what our team of gambling pros plans to bet on)
Explore Our Expert-Written Sports Betting Guides
NBA Spread Betting Strategy
1. NBA Betting Strategy Spread vs Moneyline
Betting on the spread is a beginner’s strategy all of its own. Wagering on the winner/loser via the moneyline is all well and good. But what you’ll tend to find is unfavorable odds for the favorite, which causes many of us to back the underdog. The spread is designed to keep things interesting. You’ll likely find better odds on, say, the Milwaukee Bucks to win with a spread of 7.5 (-100) than you do just on an outright Bucks win on the moneyline (-250, for example).
2. Betting Against the Mid-Late Season Stuffing
When the season really hots up and the cream separates itself from the chaff, oddsmakers start to lose their minds a little. Big far-reaching NBA betting spreads start to appear on basketball betting apps: LeBron and the Lakers to stuff Houston with a spread of -18.5 (and the like).
The simple fact is, these types of maulings aren’t seen all that regularly in the game of basketball and it’s usually better to bet against the spread in these situations.
3. Ride the Wave of Momentum
Momentum is a real thing in sport and not just basketball either. That team on a five-game winning streak is likely to continue the hot form. Keep an eye on teams that are consistently winning and losing and back them to the hills. There was a study performed some eight years ago that showed the probability of the team continuing its streak was something like 65%.
Most of the best NBA spread betting sites and apps will also show you how many times a team has covered its spread – the same rules apply: If a team is covering its spread 60-70+% of the time, jump on board and ride the wave. FanDuel is a great example of a sportsbook that actually displays how teams are fairing against the spread and a good choice for anyone wishing to perfect the strategy
4. The Martingale NBA Spread Betting System
This is a risky system to employ on NBA spreads but there are pro bettors out there who swear by it. The Martingale system is a simple NBA betting strategy that involves doubling down on your bet each time you lose. In order for it to be effective, you will need a large bankroll and the bravery of a lion – things can get out of and very quickly: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 – the numbers go up quickly.
This is not a system for everyone. But, if you’re willing to do your research and you truly believe you know the game of basketball inside out, it is possible to have success when implementing the Martingale System when NBA spread betting.
5. Bet against a 3 in 4 Team
Another simple strategy for point spread NBA betting is to wager against a team winning three out of four games in quick succession. The idea is straightforward: a team that has played three games back to back to back is likely to be tired, and defense tends to suffer before offense in such cases, as players save their best efforts for the flashy offense. By this logic, it’s wise to bet against a team covering the NBA spread when such a situation arises.
6. NBA Spread Betting Against the Public
This is one of the most popular methods for winning big when placing NBA bets at online sportsbooks (and also when day trading where it’s known as ‘taking the contrarian position’). Simply check out what the general public is doing and try NBA betting against the spread; ie. do the exact opposite of what everybody else is doing. The idea is that there’s a reason why sportsbooks are in business, and it’s not because they want us to win…
NBA Teams
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
NBA Team Standings & Stats
NBA Betting Spread FAQs
What is a spread in NBA betting?
Explain what spread, moneyline, and total points mean in NBA betting:
What is a spread on betting NBA?
What does +7 mean in point spread?
