NBA Odds And Lines - SportsLine.com (2024)

Key NBA betting terms to knowTotal Points Over/Under

Betting on whether a specific player will score more or fewer points than a predetermined total set by the sportsbook.

Total Rebounds Over/Under

Similar to a player's points over/under, this involves predicting whether a player will secure more or fewer rebounds than a specified number.

Total Assists Over/Under

Betting on whether a player will record more or fewer assists than a set number provided by the sportsbook.

Total 3-Pointers Made Over/Under

Wagering on the number of 3-point shots a player will make during the game, with an over/under line set by the sportsbook.

Double-Double or Triple-Double

Betting on whether a player will achieve a double-double (reaching double digits in two statistical categories, usually points and rebounds or points and assists) or a triple-double (reaching double digits in three statistical categories).

First scorer

Predicting which player will score the first points in the game. This type of bet can be extremely difficult to predict, so they can have larger payouts.

Method of first basket

Pick the exact way the first basket is made, typically choosing a player and then whether he'll make a free throw, dunk, layup, three-point shot, or other basket.

Head-to-Head player props

Comparing the individual performances of two players, such as who will score more points, grab more rebounds, or record more assists in the game.

Player Combos

A type of bet that allows you to combine multiple player-related outcomes within a single wager. This can include various individual player performance factors such as points scored, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and other statistical categories.

Team Total Points

Oddsmakers set a line for the total points that they expect one team to score. For example, if the line for Los Angeles is 125.5 points, you can bet on whether Los Angeles will score more (over) or fewer (under) points than that specified line.

Team Total Rebounds or Assists

Betting on whether a basketball team will exceed or fall short of a specified total in terms of rebounds or assist

Against the spread

While there is an outright winner and loser in basketball games, there is also a winner and loser against the spread. This refers to the point spread that is determined by oddsmakers and the betting market. If Boston is -3.5, it is a 3.5-point favorite and must win by four points or more to cover

Money line

Betting on the outright winner of the game without any point spread involved. Each team is assigned odds, and you bet on the team you think will win.

Over/Under

This involves betting on the total number of points scored in a game. Sportsbooks set a total, and you can bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under that posted number.

Parlay

A parlay is a single bet that combines two or more individual wagers for a bigger payout. All bets in the parlay must be successful for the overall bet to win.

Same game parlay

A type of sports betting wager where a bettor combines multiple bets on a single game into a single wager. Unlike traditional parlays, where bets are placed on separate games, a same game parlay allows you to combine various bets within a single game, such as team point spreads, player props, over/under totals, and more.

Prop bets

These are bets on specific events within a game, like the first team to score, total points by a player, or the result of the first quarter.

Futures

While many bets are posted for individual games, there are also futures bets that often span multiple weeks or months. Common basketball futures bets are division winners and championship winners. Futures bets can be hard to predict, so they can have large payouts.

Halftime/Quarter betting

Placing bets on the outcome of the game or specific aspects of the game at halftime or during a particular quarter.

Live betting

Pre-game betting is still the most common way to bet on a game, but live betting has created a chance for bettors to wager throughout the contest. Sportsbooks update the money line, spread, and over/under throughout the game for users to bet on in real time.

Point spread

This is the most common type of basketball bet. The sportsbook sets a margin of victory, and you can bet on a team to win by more points (cover the spread) or lose by fewer points than the set margin.

Push

When the final margin of victory lands exactly on the point spread or total. The bet is neither a winner nor a loser, meaning bets are refunded.