How to bet on the NBA: Totals, point spreads, live betting and more
The NBA is one of the most popular sports to wager on in Ontario. NorthStar Bets offers markets ranging from point spreads to player props.
How to bet on the NBA. You can pick teams to win straight up or back them to be victorious by a certain amount of points. There are bets you can place before a game starts or after the opening tip-off.
Betting on the moneyline is a popular form of NBA betting. A favourite on a money line can see odds that reach -1,000 or even higher. The odds of winning can vary greatly between teams. The last-place team is favoured, while the underdog is the one with the least chance of success.
There are other ways to pick winners as well. In the next section, we will look at how to bet on NBA point spreads.
How to bet on NBA point spreads. The Raptors are playing the Phoenix Suns on the road. The spread line is: Raptors +8.5; Suns -8,5. Most spreads are set at -110 odds for both teams. You can also bet alternative spreads with different odds.
Alternative spreads involve placing a wager on a number different from the standard/main -110 line. If you don't like the number, you can bet the Raptors at a different spread. This would give a larger cut to the sportsbook. On the other hand, if you are confident in a blowout Raptors victory, and you want to tack on more points for them to cover above the 7.5-point spread, this would increase your profit.
How to bet on NBA totals. The over/under on the points total is between 200 and 230 points. If the total was set at 207.5 in a hypothetical game between the Raptors and Cavaliers, you would have to choose whether the teams will eclipse that number or fall short. A combined score of 208 or more would cash the over, while a combined total of 207 or less would mean the under wins.
Alternative totals are also available. You can bet on different numbers than the 207.5 O/U in the example. There are options to bet team-specific totals as well. You could also place a wager on the total, moneyline and spread for a specific quarter or half.
Player props involve betting on individual outcomes. Props include Fred VanVleet's score, Pascal Siakam's rebounds and assists, Gary Trent Jr's three-point percentage and a player's combined point/rebound/assist total.
Futures betting involves betting on outcomes that will happen later. It's a great way to find value before the season starts. Scottie Barnes won Rookie of the Year last year at +1,500 odds. This is equivalent to $1.500 on a $100 wager. Other common futures markets include betting for MVP, NBA champion, division winners, and the over/under on the team's win total.
Parlays are attractive to some because the payouts are bigger than a single-game wager.
A parlay bet is a bet that requires all three outcomes to be correct in order to win. A $100 wager would payout $695.79. If you made $90 bets on each game as single-event wagers instead, you could profit $272.73.
Live betting is growing in popularity. It gives bettors an option to react to the results of a contest as it plays out in real time. The odds are constantly changing throughout the game. For heavy favourites, it will typically take quite a bit of time or a massive deficit before they turn into an underdog.
