NBA Picks, Predictions and Lines

Looking for today’s NBA betting lines, picks and predictions?  Get all the NBA point spreads, money lines and over/unders and enjoy predictions and picks for selected games.

How to read NBA odds​

​Those new to NBA betting can find the odds pages confusing. Getting to grips with the terminology is important before placing your first NBA wager – bettors need to know how much they can win and how to identify value.

Betting an NBA game usually involves the spread, moneyline and points total. The spread will often be the first thing visible on a bookies’ page. This is a way to level the betting market between two teams, effectively handicapping the favorite. Teams will be listed with a plus or a minus – for example, if the Lakers are -7.5 against the Clippers, they need to win by eight points for the bet to cash.

​In this example, the Clips would cover as the ‘dogs’ if they are within seven points of the Lakers when the game ends.

Moneyline and points total bets are more intuitive. The moneyline is a straight up wager on who wins the game. Moneyline odds on NBA games can be extreme – it’s not uncommon to see teams as short as -1000. This is why betting against the spread is such a popular way to bet NBA games.

Points totals are a case of betting the over or under on a set line. These will often be paired with the moneyline for a parlay.​

NBA odds movement

​The availability of NBA odds varies. With games on everyday during the regular season, bettors often don’t have much time to place their wagers. Despite a small window to get bets in, NBA betting lines will still move significantly.

​Keeping up with the latest NBA news is important for any NBA bettor. Lines can shift significantly if a star player’s availability changes, and teams will often leave it late to announce their starting line-ups.

​Recent changes have forced teams to make their team news public earlier than previously, but bettors will often be unsure of injury news until three hours before tip-off.

​As with any sports betting, major money can shift the betting lines, too. If there’s significant betting confidence in the Lakers at -7.5, the spread could grow towards -10.​

NBA playoffs betting

​Everything in the long NBA regular season is building towards the playoffs. Over half of the league make the postseason, and the introduction of play-in tournaments means even the nine and 10 seeds in each conference have a chance at featuring in the first round.​

Bettors will place bets on the playoffs before and during the season. NBA fans are constantly weighing up who their favorite is to come out of the respective conferences, and which team they ultimately fancy to win it all.

​Just like Super Bowl or World Series odds, the betting markets on NBA Finals and playoff success will vary throughout the year. Backing your Finals pick after a couple of losses can be a good way to find better value.​

NBA betting strategy

​The availability of key players is obviously so important in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard sitting out drastically changes the Clippers’ chances. Subscribing to reliable sources for constant NBA injury news is a must for bettors.

​Recent performances are important, too, though be wary of the circumstances of those games. It’s often more useful to look at season-long trends such as how teams have fared on the road, on back-to-backs or how their defense has managed against certain types of offense.

Perhaps more so than other sports, specific matchups are key, also. If Joel Embiid has repeatedly dominated the opposition’s center in their recent encounters, that’s a factor that must be taken into account.

​The more information the better when it comes to betting on the NBA.

​Read More: NFL Picks, Predictions and Lines