Betting Strategy Guide
How to Bet on Basketball
Key takeaways
- Basketball is bet mostly on the point spread and the total, both usually priced around -110 on each side.
- NBA games last 48 minutes and WNBA games 40, so WNBA totals are lower than NBA totals.
- Teams playing on consecutive nights may be tired or rest key players, which can move the spread and the total.
To bet on basketball, you choose a game and a market, most often the point spread, the total or the moneyline, and set your stake. Because scoring is high and games are long, basketball also has quarter and half lines and a wide range of player props.
The main basketball bets
| Market | What wins | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Your team covers the margin | Favorite -5.5 at -110 |
| Total | Combined points over or under the line | Over 224.5 at -110 |
| Moneyline | Your team wins the game | Underdog +180 |
Each one has its own guide: the spread, totals and the moneyline.
A worked example
Take an underdog at +5.5 on the spread, priced -110, and +180 on the moneyline. A $110 bet on +5.5 wins $100 if the underdog loses by 5 or fewer or wins outright. A $100 bet on the moneyline wins $180, but only if it wins. That price implies 100 ÷ 280 = 35.7%. See how to read odds.
NBA and WNBA
NBA games are four 12-minute quarters; WNBA games are four 10-minute quarters, so WNBA totals are lower. Quarter and half lines let you bet on part of a game, such as the first-half spread. Follow the lines on the NBA and WNBA pages.
Player props
Common props are over/under lines on a player's points, rebounds and assists, or a combination of them. Minutes drive all of them: a starter who sits late in a lopsided game can fall short after a strong start. Availability varies by event.
Rest, travel and injuries
A team on the second night of a back-to-back may be tired or rest its best players. Injury news often arrives close to tip-off and can move a spread by several points, so check team news before you bet.
Live betting swings
Basketball scoring comes in runs, so in-game spreads and totals move quickly. Before betting into a run, consider whether it reflects a real change, such as foul trouble, or ordinary variance. Overtime usually counts in full-game bets; check the house rules. Terms like cover and push are in the betting dictionary.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
Betcris Arizona is licensed by the Arizona Department of Gaming. You must be 21 or older and located in Arizona to place a bet. Check the current promotions before you bet, and read our responsible gaming policy. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does overtime count in NBA betting?
+
Full-game spreads, totals and moneylines usually include overtime. Check the house rules for how second-half and fourth-quarter bets treat it.
What does +5.5 mean in basketball betting?
+
The team is a 5.5-point underdog. A bet on it wins if it loses by 5 or fewer or wins the game, and the half point means it cannot push.
What is a back-to-back in the NBA?
+
Games on two consecutive nights. On the second night a team may be tired or rest key players, which can move the spread and the total.
How do basketball player props work?
+
You bet whether a player finishes over or under a line for a stat such as points, rebounds or assists. If the player does not play, the house rules decide how the bet is settled.
