- Twitch
- Kick
- CS2
- Dota 2
- LoL
- More Games
- Esports Betting
- Esports Betting Sites
- Social Betting Sites
- Sports Betting Sites
- Online Casino
- Esports Betting Tips
-
If you love sports, then you would be remiss if you haven’t tried NBA betting. With so many betting options available and the number of games played, there are plenty of ways to find value betting on the NBA.
Personally, I bet on the NBA because it’s arguably the most data-driven sport right now. With advanced stats like usage rate and pace, spotting value bets from a mile away becomes easier. If you want to try NBA betting, then keep scrolling as I will discuss the different bets available and the strategies you can use to maximize your experience.
At its core, NBA betting online is so exciting, especially since the games are fast-paced and momentum swings happen far too often. But like anything, it comes with upsides and downsides.
If you live in Canada where hockey is the most popular sport, then I can see why you’re having second thoughts betting on the NBA. However, you should know by now that popular Canada high stakes betting websites have an NBA market for punters to take action. If you’re still not sure of betting on the NBA, then here are several reasons why you might want to.
If you’re reading this, then there’s a good chance that you love some daily action at the leading Canada betting sites. However, if you only limit yourself to American football, hockey, or European soccer, then you’ll find it quite challenging to spot some action, especially since scheduled games among those sports run on a weekly basis or less.
That is, however, not the case when it comes to NBA betting online. Unlike other sports leagues, NBA teams play 82 regular-season games, meaning there’s always action almost every night. With plenty of action available, it makes it easier to spot value bets and maximize betting opportunities.
Daily betting action also makes it easier to notice how odds shift, when the money comes in, and which bookies offer the best prices. While this may not seem like a lot on the surface, being aware of the market shifts gives you a better chance of succeeding in NBA betting in the long term.
Like eSports betting sites, NBA betting offers plenty of betting opportunities for punters wanting to take part in the action. Besides the popular moneyline and spread markets, you’ll have a chance to wager on the over-under markets, quarter and halftime markets, first basket market, and same-game parlays.
My favorite, however, is the player prop bet market. As a long-time fan, I’ve always loved to analyze player matchups. With the availability of advanced stats, you can often find value before books adjust.
For example, big men like Karl-Anthony Towns, who averages 13.3 rebounds per game, thrive against weak rebounding teams, or a volume scorer like Michael Porter Jr. could get hot against teams with bad perimeter defense.
I’ll be the first to tell you that NBA oddsmakers are sharp. But if you have been on it for far too long, then you’ll begin to realize that it can also be unpredictable. With NBA teams playing 82 regular season games, you can expect some players to take a break every now and then, which happens far too often than you realize.
If you track reporters closely, then you’ll find out that star players like Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, and Jimmy Butler are prone to sitting out games. By tracking which star players sit out, you can find a better spot to take some action.
Back-to-back games can also take a toll on teams and players. This means there’s always a chance that a high-scoring team like the Cleveland Cavaliers could slow down if they are on a stretch of consecutive games.
Now that I’ve discussed why you should bet on the NBA, the next thing I will talk about is the different types of NBA bets you can take. In the table, I’ve summarized the most common NBA bets, what they’re all about, and their examples.
| 🎯 Bet Type | 🤔 What It’s All About | 📄 Examples |
| Moneyline | Picking which team will win the game outright | Cleveland Cavaliers (-115), Boston Celtics (+105) – Cleveland is a slight favorite versus Boston |
| Spread | Backing a team to win or not lose by a certain margin of points | Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5) vs Utah Jazz (+6.5) – The Bucks must win by seven points or more to cover. |
| Totals (Over/Under) | Betting on the combined number of points of both teams | O/U 222.5 – Bet the over if you think the combined score will be 223 points or more. |
| Player Props | Betting on an individual player’s performance in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. | Luka Doncic Over 31.5 points or Under 31.5 points – Bet the under if you think Doncic will not score over 31 points. |
| Team Props | Backing on team stats like total points or three-point shots made. | Cleveland Cavaliers Over or Under 15.5 three-point shots – Bet the under if you expect the Cavaliers to hit less than 15 threes. |
| Parlays | Combining two or more bets in one ticket | Sacramento Kings ML, Milwaukee Bucks ML, Toronto Raptors ML – All teams must win for the bet to hit. |
Moneyline betting is perhaps the easiest way to bet on the NBA. Like UFC betting in Canada, you’ll only need to pick on whichever team wins or loses when you opt for moneyline betting. This is ideal for beginners since you don’t have to worry about margins, spreads, or how much a team wins by, since you’ll just be focusing on the outright result.
My only gripe with moneyline betting is that it is sometimes quite challenging to find value, especially if a top contender like the Boston Celtics battle a middle-of-the-pack squad like the Utah Jazz. When picking moneyline, it’s always ideal to pick teams that are dead-even when it comes to talent to get the most value for the risk you are taking.
Spread betting is a type of bet where you expect a team to win or not lose by a certain number of points. In the example in the table above, where the Milwaukee Bucks are lined at -6.5, you’ll need Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team to win versus the Utah Jazz by seven points.
On the flip side, if you’re a Jazz fan and picking the +6.5 line, you’ll need to hope that Lauri Markannen and Jordan Clarkson keep your team afloat and avoid losing by seven points or more for your bet to hit. The thing I love about spread betting is it gives me an opportunity to back favorites at value odds since it gives balanced odds on both teams.
Betting the over and under totals in an NBA game is a bit tricky, but if you understand fatigue spots, team tempo, and injury reports, then it might be good for you to try this market. Personally, I immediately go to the totals market if I don’t trust the two teams facing off.
What I love about over/under markets is that your bet is still alive until the last second. This is the exact opposite of moneyline and spread betting, where blowouts almost always kill the action. One thing you might pay attention to, however, is the lines, since it can move faster than you want because of how it reacts to betting volume or injury reports.
As mentioned above, I am a huge fan of player prop bets. With the NBA being a star-driven league and most of the money going on moneyline and spread markets, there’s plenty of room of value betting in the player props markets.
For example, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the league with a season average of 26.4 points. Considering his averages, oddsmakers might set the line at 27 points but if you’ve been paying attention, Doncic is still acclimating in his new home and has only reached over 27 points in three of his past seven games. This means that the under might be a good bet at specific odds right now.
If you don’t rely much on player performances, then team props might be a good way for you to join in the exciting action of NBA betting. For example, in a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, instead of picking the winner of this match, you might be interested in going for the total three-pointers made.
With the Warriors having elite shooters like Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield and the Cavaliers’ penchant for scoring from downtown, it might be a good idea to pick the over three-point shots made in this game. Plus, team props often fly under the radar since bookmakers focus too much on popular markets like moneyline and spreads, giving you plenty of opportunities for finding excellent betting spots.
Parlays are double-edged swords. It can burn your bankroll if you’re not too careful but if you are diligent enough to read injury and team reports, analyze statistics, and consider past team performances, it can also be your friend. A parlay is combining two or more selections in one bet to get a much juicier odds.
My personal tip for parlays is combining correlated bets instead of stacking together random legs. For example, you might want to pick the Cleveland Cavaliers to win, the Cavaliers team total to over 110.5, and Donovan Mitchell to score over 25.5 points. If Mitchell explodes for more than 25 points, the Cavaliers will likely win and hit their team total.
Just like soccer betting in Canada, NBA betting is a grind. This means that you’ll need a comprehensive strategy to succeed since you’ll have to deal with 30 teams that are playing 82 regular season games each. Here are several betting strategies I’ve used when taking action at popular NBA betting sites.
Unlike other sports, there is plenty of value to find in NBA betting – you just have to know where to look. The thing is NBA lines are almost always influenced by casual bettors and public money. It is, however, worth noting that underdogs cover the spread more often than you think, especially when playing in front of their adoring fans.
For example, if a road favorite is playing their third game in four nights, then it might be a good idea to back the underdog to cover, especially since the former might suffer from tired legs and jet lag. By learning to spot the value, you can exploit market inefficiencies and gain a consistent edge against bookmakers as time goes on.
The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. So, it’s always a good idea for you to manage your bankroll and not splurge everything on a single bet. A good idea is to set a daily or weekly budget to ensure that your bankroll won’t run out before the season ends.
My personal tip is to only wager 1 or 2% of your bankroll per bet. For example, if you have a bankroll of $1,000, betting $10 or $20 might be a good idea to start. You can increase your betting unit if you’re confident on a team but avoid putting more than 5% of your bankroll on a single selection. With bankroll management, you’ll have an effective long-term strategy for betting in the NBA, not just short-term hype.
The NBA is one of – if not the most popular league in the world. So, betting odds for a single game might vary from one bookmaker to another. By shopping for the best odds, you can ensure that you’re not leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
You can use several odds comparison sites to check for NBA odds to see where you can get the best odds for a particular game or market. You can check the lines early and see how it moves before game day to find the best value for a specific selection.
NBA betting offers an exciting way for sports fans to engage in the action. With so many betting markets and daily games, there are plenty of opportunities to find value. Although the league’s high variance and unpredictable nature can pose challenges, using the right strategies like bankroll management, odds shopping, and value betting can help you stay ahead of bookmakers.
NBA betting is popular because of the sheer volume of games and daily action, offering constant opportunities to place bets. With 82 regular-season games per team, there’s nearly always something to bet on, making it easier to track trends and odds movement.
Yes, NBA betting comes with high variance due to player injuries, load management, and unpredictable momentum shifts. Even well-researched bets can fail, so a solid strategy and good bankroll management are essential.
Moneyline bets are best for beginners since they’re straightforward—you’re simply picking the winner. They’re easier to grasp than spreads or props, although they can offer lower value in games with clear favorites.
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
