NBA games are watched with bated breath by millions of fans around the world. They also represent a massive betting opportunity. The accessibility of the games has made them an easy betting target. Streaming services now provide access to the action from almost anywhere. If you are watching and have a good understanding of the teams playing, then live betting is just a simple extension of what your ancestors in the gambling community have always done: betting on who will win while the event is still happening.
Nigerian players know all about how to bet on NBA Basketball. However, we've put together a complete guide to ensure that our fans can make the most of their betting experience. We've covered everything from picking the regular season MVP to props related to specific players. And while you might think that picking NBA player props would be easy, with guys like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, it's actually no easier and probably harder than any other league. Below you'll find our list of the best sportsbooks to bet on NBA games.
Best NBA Online Betting Sites
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Operator
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Bonus
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Features
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Claim Now
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300% Bonus
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100% Match
Up to 100€ |
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100% Match
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100% up to €50
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100% Match
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R25 Sign Up Bonus
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100% Match
Up to R3000 |
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100% UP TO €25
+ €10 FREE BET |
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Top NBA Betting Guide
Latest NBA Betting News
Understanding NBA Basketball Odds
In order to effectively place winning bets on the NBA, you need to know how to read the odds. It is a rule as old as betting itself that not all basketball games are created equal. Some contests determine a league champion, while others are high stakes showdowns between the best players in the game. But understanding the NBA odds at the major betting platforms is essential, as these odds can and do affect your bottom line. If you want to come out ahead in your bets, you need to be able to read the odds and understand what they really mean. The preseason serves as a great preview of what to expect in the regular season meetings between interdivisional teams. NBA teams use these games to get a better sense of what the starting 5 and bench mob will look like come October.
Types on the NBA Games Bets
Players can place several types of bets on the NBA, both in-game and during live games. The betting season starts well before the NBA playoff schedule is released and well before most people start seriously predicting playoff teams. These in-between markets have given NG players an expanded pool of pre-game bets to wade through and find on the Internet, which is exciting for the bettors among us.
NBA Handicap Bets
In this basketball bet, oddsmakers set the odds to level the playing field and make it worthwhile to bet on the favorite. Bettors pick the outright winner of the game, but they must win by a certain number of points in order to win the bet. Bookmakers give the underdog in the game a certain number of points, so even if they lose, you can still win. A good example would be the Warriors versus the Denver Nuggets.
Rephrased: The last four NBA Finals have included the Golden State team, and they look like they could make it five in a row this year. That means they are favored to beat the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference playoffs. Denver has never won an NBA championship, but they have a good team this year. To be fair, the oddsmakers have the Warriors favored by 18.5 points over the Nuggets.
NBA Futures
When you view the rosters of each NBA team, you can place bets on which conference they will win. You can also place bets on which player will win MVP honors in the 2025 season. There are so many moving parts, with players changing teams, that it's hard to predict confidence. Until we see whether new partnerships are effective or failures, it's hard to gauge everything. You should also keep in mind that these odds will change as the NBA season progresses.
Moneylines NBA Bets
Similar to other sports, NBA betting involves predicting which team will win the game. There are a number of expert tipsters who provide predictions for tonight's NBA games and share their insights on the key factors that will influence the outcome of the game. Bettors can use this information to place bets on the outcome and spread.
If your research and intuition tell you that the Clippers can beat the Lakers in the matchup of the year, you can bet on it and win big. Betting on the money line does not offer a huge payout, but if you choose a bet that is more of a gamble and favor the underdog to win, then there is a much bigger reward waiting for you.
Over/Under Betting
Because basketball is such a high scoring game, betting on the total makes betting on the NBA even more interesting. Over and Under bets refer to betting on the combined score of both teams. Bettors will wager money on whether or not they think the NBA score will be higher or lower than the predetermined score set by the bookmaker.
The final score of the game was 194 - only 3.5 points off the predicted total. Keep in mind that total lines can and do change after they're first published. It's always a good idea to double-check your numbers before placing a bet.
NBA Parlay/Teaser
The top NBA betting sites allow basketball parlay bets with the weekend selections to increase your total payouts. You can only win parlays if all of your selections are correct. Oddsmakers create parlay tickets using total, handicap, and money line bets to ensure that the odds make the bet enticing.
A teaser is basically the same bet with just a single prediction that is set by the sportsbook. They usually offer players point spreads to increase the odds of winning.
NBA Betting Strategies
NBA forums on the Internet around the world are mostly inhabited by expert tipsters. They generously share information in these forums to help punters with some free NBA betting tips. You can incorporate these tips into your research on a particular game or team and make some smart NBA bets.
- The most important thing to keep in mind is that gamblers should bet with an understanding of who will be playing. The lineups for each game are released beforehand by the NBA teams, and if you come across an opponent with one or more injured stars, you can play smart and back the underdog.
- Consider the time of the game. During the regular season, players tend not to overexert themselves and play with a more relaxed attitude. But once the playoff series kicks off, you can bet that the performance of both players and teams will be amped up in every way possible.
- The importance of a team's momentum heading into a game cannot be overstated. The year Golden State last won the NBA Finals, they won 73 games and lost only nine. They have been able to string together some solid wins both at home and on the road. This type of form can be a huge factor in swinging the odds of a match in your favor.
- Pay attention to a team's performance defensively at home and how that translates on the road. This can be a telling indicator of a team's form and ability to win a playoff series.
National Basketball Association Rules
The 48 minutes of an NBA game are divided into four 12-minute periods. The game pits two teams of five players against each other on the basketball court. Players have the opportunity to showcase their best individual skills, but the hallmark of a winning team is effective communication and teamwork. Players can rotate in and out of the game as often as the coach sees fit, provided they are not under the duress of a foul.
The team with the ball has 24 seconds to try to score on the other side of the field. NG bettors place their bets on all of these factors in the game, including the score in both the first quarter and the final quarter.
Past NBA Finals Champions and Runners-Up
The NBA championship list shows that only nine NBA teams have been the last ones standing in the NBA Finals in the last 20 years. This list will help you make smart bets if and when you decide to put some money down on a favorite to win the NBA championship.
| Year | NBA Finals Winner | Runner-Up |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | Miami Heat |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | Miami Heat |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
| 209 | Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers |
