Most Popular NBA Betting Options

The National Basketball Association is the world’s top professional basketball league, making NBA betting a thrilling and entertaining venture. 

Betting on NBA odds lets fans get behind their favourite teams and players, especially during the intense regular season and the electrifying NBA playoffs. At BetMGM, you can enjoy the most popular NBA betting options during the offseason, preseason, regular season, and post-season. Let’s take a closer look. 

NBA Moneyline Betting

This NBA betting line involves simply choosing which team will win the game – the favourite or the underdog – with NBA betting odds for both. A Raptors-Hawks moneyline might look like this:

• Raptors ‒160 vs. Hawks +130.

Here, the Raptors are -160 favourites, and the Hawks are +130 underdogs, based on a $100 wager. If the Hawks win, the payout is $230 ($130 in profit plus the original bet).  If you back the Raptors, you must bet $160 to win $100.

Over/Under NBA Betting

An over/under bet is placed on the total number of points scored in a game. The sportsbook sets the projected number, and you decide whether the total will be over or under. 

A typical over/under bet looks like this:

• Raptors vs. Lakers Over 211 points: ‒110.
• Raptors vs. Lakers Under 211 points: ‒110.

Here, an overbet wins if the total score is 212 points or more, and an underbet wins if the score is less than 11. Winning bets pay out $100 for every $110 you bet. 

Point Spread NBA Bets

Point spread betting is the most popular of all NBA betting options. The sportsbook sets a spread that the underdog has to lose by or the favourite win by. A Raptors-Celtics point spread might look like this:

• Boston Celtics: +3 ‒110
• Toronto Raptors: ‒3 ‒110

Here, the Raptors have to win by 4 points or more, while the Celtics have to lose by no more than 2 points (or win).

NBA Prop Bets

NBA prop bets are based on in-game events related to players or teams that do not directly impact the game’s outcome.

NBA player prop bets include over/under bets on points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and 3-point shots. You can get as specific as betting on the Toronto Raptors with the most triple-doubles in a contest.

In terms of team props, you’ll answer questions like these:

• Which team will score first, reach 10 or 20 points first, or have the highest-scoring quarter?
• Which team will win the first and second halves?
• What will the margin of victory be?

NBA Futures Bets

A futures bet predicts the outcome of an event far off in the future. The most popular bets are championship and most valued player (MVP) futures, but there are many more. Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, top scorer in a game – the list goes on.

Live Betting on NBA Games

Live bets are moneylines, over/unders, and props placed when the game has already begun. The odds constantly adjust after every basket or missed shot. Pay close attention to team schedules, substitution patterns, recent player performance, injuries, whether it’s early or late in the game, and other factors. This intense NBA betting option is the ultimate test of your knowledge – and your nerve.

Parlays and Teasers in NBA Games

NBA Betting: Parlays

Sports bettors looking for bigger payouts often take out parlays and teasers. Parlays combine two or more bets, the simplest version being a parlay moneyline. Say a bettor picks the Bucks at ‒120 over the Hawks and the Warriors at +140 over the Los Angeles Lakers. This basic two-game parlay pays out at +340, returning $440 on a $100 stake. Both bets have to succeed to win, which adds to the excitement of the wager.

You can parlay any number of moneylines, as well as point spreads, over/unders, and even same-game prop bets.

NBA Betting: Teasers

A teaser is a parlay bet that lets you adjust multiple-point spreads or over/under totals in exchange for a lower payout.  Say you’re looking at these teams (from three different games):

• Spurs ‒11.
• Warriors +4.5.
• Grizzlies +2.

A three-team teaser with 4 points moves the lines 4 points in your favour, like so:

• Spurs ‒7.
• Warriors +8.5.
• Grizzlies +6.

Different teasers have different odds. This example offers +180 odds and pays $180 for every $100 wager.