NBA Betting Tips
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league in North America and Canada. The NBA consists of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) that are divided into the Western and Eastern conferences.
The NBA is widely considered to be the elite level of men's professional basketball in the world. NBA players are the world's best paid athletes in the world by average annual salary per player.
The 2019-20 NBA season will be the 74th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Latest NBA News
NBA FAQ
What is the NBA?
The NBA is a men's professional basketball league in North America and Canada.
What does NBA stand for?
NBA stands for the National Basketball Association.
Where is the NBA played?
The NBA is played primarily in North America and Canada with games also held in England.
When is the NBA regular season?
The 2019-20 NBA regular season will begin on October 22, 2019 and end on August 14, 2020.
When are the NBA Playoffs?
The 2019-20 NBA playoffs will be played from August 17 - September 30, 2020.
What is the NBA Finals?
The NBA Finals is a seven match series between the Western Conference winners and Eastern Conference winners to decide the winner of the NBA Championship.
When is the NBA Finals?
The 2019-20 NBA Finals will be played from September 30 - October 12, 2020.
Who has won the most NBA Championships?
Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA Championships, one more than the Los Angeles Lakers who have won 16 NBA Championships.
Which NBA team has not won a Championship?
The Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans have never won an NBA championship.
When is the NBA All-Star Game?
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 16, 2020.
Where is the NBA All-Star Game?
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game was played at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
How many teams are in the NBA?
There are 30 teams in the NBA.
What teams play in the NBA?
The 30 teams in the NBA are Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards.
NBA Live Streaming
NBA live streaming is a great way to watch all the NBA games no matter where you are. All you need is a digital device and a suitable internet connection. Watch NBA on your mobile, tablet, pc or tv with NBA live streams where ever you are.
Watch NBA live streaming on NBA TV available with the NBA League Pass. The NBA League Pass gives you access to all NBA games including the Playoffs, NBA finals and exclusive NBA TV content.
Basketball Live Streaming
The bet365 live streaming service is a great way to watch sport and horse racing all over the world. Bet365 have many sports available including basketball, football, soccer, tennis, rugby, cricket and snooker.
Here is all you need to know to watch basketball live streaming with bet365.
- Log-in or register for an account at bet365 (use the bonus code "NEWBONUS")
- Visit bet365 > Live Streaming > Basketball
- When the live streaming window opens, select the basketball game you want to watch.
- Registered depositing users can watch & bet on basketball.
To watch a bet365 live stream users must be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. 18+, geo-restrictions & terms and conditions apply.
NBA Free Bets
Get NBA free bets to get your betting account off to a winning start. Many bookies offer NBA free bets to new and existing customers including the NBA All Star Game, NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.
NBA Bet of the Day
Our NBA Bet of the Day is our best tip and selection from the daily slate of games. It could be a team to win or moneyline, total over/under, handicap or line, player prop or multibet.
NBA Bonus Bets
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NBA Betting Odds
NBA betting odds will be offered by every major online bookmaker, find the best bookie with our bookmaker reviews. NBA betting odds can fluctuate with different lines or handicaps so do your homework and always get the best NBA betting odds.
NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament that takes place after the NBA regular season. The top eight teams in the East and West conference qualify for the NBA playoffs with the winners of each conference meeting in the NBA Finals.
The winners in the first round of the NBA playoffs advance to the second round or conference semifinals. The two conference semifinals winners advance to the third round or conference finals. The winner from the East and West conference advance to the NBA Finals.
All rounds in the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven series with home-court advantage seeing the hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Their opponent hosts games 3, 4, and 6.
NBA Format
All 30 NBA teams go through a 82 game regular season beginning with the 8 teams from each conference competing in a playoff series. The Eastern and Western conference champions then square off in the grand finale, the NBA Finals which culminates in June.
NBA Betting Sites
Make sure you check out the best NBA betting sites with the most markets and best odds. We have bookmaker reviews to help you find the best bookie in your country of residence.
NBA Bookie Promotions
NBA bookie promotions can include enhanced odds on a team to win, or higher odds on a player market like over/under points, rebounds and assists. Take advantage of NBA bookie promotions throughout the NBA season.
NBA Schedule
It's important to know the NBA schedule if you are to maximise your betting potential. Teams play on road trips and home stands, altitude can be a factor in certain cities and travel can play a big part in rest and fatigue.
NBA Standings
The NBA standings will show you the top 15 teams in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference. The NBA Standings also show the NBA by division with the teams in each division listed below.
NBA Eastern Conference Teams
| Atlantic Division | Central Division | Southeast Division |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | Miami Heat |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Indiana Pacers | Charlotte Hornets |
| Toronto Raptors | Detroit Pistons | Atlanta Hawks |
| Brooklyn Nets | Chicago Bulls | Washington Wizards |
| New York Knicks | Cleveland Cavaliers | Orlando Magic |
NBA Western Conference Teams
| Northwest Division | Pacific Division | Southwest Division |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Lakers | Dallas Mavericks |
| Utah Jazz | Phoenix Suns | Houston Rockets |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | LA Clippers | San Antonio Spurs |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Golden State Warriors | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Sacramento Kings | New Orleans Pelicans |
NBA Scores
Get the latest NBA scores so you can start planning ahead by finding value in the NBA betting markets. Find the players scoring all the points and grabbing all the boards in the box score so you can get more of your NBA predictions correct.
NBA Results
The NBA results will show streaks in the win and loss column that can show you what teams are in or out of form. Check the NBA results as soon as they happen so you stay on top of the bookies.
NBA Highlights
NBA highlights are a great way to catch up on all the NBA action. Get more in depth knowledge of what's happening on the court by watching NBA highlights and checking out all the dunks.
NBA News
Get the latest NBA news and stay up to date with everything that's happening in the NBA. Players get injured which can affect teams especially if they are superstar players like LeBron James, Kahwi Leonard and Kevin Durant.
NBA Rumours
NBA rumours will give you the heads up about player trades or locker room unrest that can affect a team on the court. Player trades can turn an NBA franchise in an instant and turn a mediocre team into a title contender.
NBA Social Media
Follow all the NBA social media sites so you get all the latest news, features, player interviews, fan features and NBA specials:
- NBA Twitter - https://twitter.com/NBA
- NBA Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nba/
- NBA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nba/
NBA Betting Markets
NBA betting markets resemble NFL betting markets in many ways with three main bets that bettors use:
Money Line, Winner
A money line bet on an NBA game is the most basic bets, with the bettor selecting the winner of the game.
Total Points
The total points betting market refers to the combined points that will be scored by both teams in an NBA match. Sportsbook gives punters the option of taking an Over/Under bet on the Totals Market.
Handicap, Line, Spread
Handicap, line or spread betting focuses on a number of points that either team will have to overcome of protect. The points handicap is often called ‘the spread’ in the US betting market.
There is often great value in the handicap market once you familiarise yourself with players and rosters. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers might be at odds of +6.5 against the Golden State Warriors -6.5. A bet on the Lakers would win if they lose the game by six or less points, while a bet on the Warriors would pay out if they win or win by seven points or more.
Half Time/Full Time
Predict which team will be winning at half time and at full time, this bet can be useful in lopsided NBA games to give you more value than a win bet.
Player points, rebounds and assists
There are a number of different betting options if you want to bet on one player in an NBA game. Bet on how many points a player will score, how many rebounds they will pull down or how many assists they will dish out. There are combinations available with different bookmakers including points + rebounds, points + rebounds + assists.
Alternative Totals
If an NBA game is tipped to go way over or under the total points, use alternative totals to get more value by predicting a game where many more or less points will be scored.
Team Points
These bets take the winner and loser out of the equation. Betting on only one team to score a certain amount of points can be done in different betting markets, such as over/under total points.
Other NBA Betting Markets
Punters have the potential to wager on hundreds of specific outcomes for an NBA match. These include 1st quarter, 1st and 2nd Half, Alternative Handicap Markets and individual team totals.
NBA Champions & Runners-Up
| Year | Western Champion | Result | Eastern Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 2019 | Golden State Warriors | 2–4 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | 4–0 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | 4–1 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2016 | Golden State Warriors | 3–4 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | 4–2 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–1 | Miami Heat |
| 2013 | San Antonio Spurs | 3–4 | Miami Heat |
| 2012 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 1–4 | Miami Heat |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | 4–2 | Miami Heat |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 | Boston Celtics |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 | Orlando Magic |
| 2008 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–0 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2006 | Dallas Mavericks | 2–4 | Miami Heat |
| 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1–4 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–2 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–0 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–1 | New York Knicks |
| 1998 | Utah Jazz | 2–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1997 | Utah Jazz | 2–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996 | Seattle SuperSonics | 2–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | 4–0 | Orlando Magic |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | 4–3 | New York Knicks |
| 1993 | Phoenix Suns | 2–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1992 | Portland Trail Blazers | 2–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1991 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1–4 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1990 | Portland Trail Blazers | 1–4 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989 | Los Angeles Lakers | 0–4 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1986 | Houston Rockets | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1984 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1983 | Los Angeles Lakers | 0–4 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981 | Houston Rockets | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | 4–1 | Washington Bullets |
| 1978 | Seattle SuperSonics | 3–4 | Washington Bullets |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | 4–2 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1976 | Phoenix Suns | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | 4–0 | Washington Bullets |
| 1974 | Milwaukee Bucks | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1973 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1–4 | New York Knicks |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | 4–1 | New York Knicks |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4–0 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1970 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3–4 | New York Knicks |
| 1969 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1968 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1967 | San Francisco Warriors | 2–4 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1966 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1965 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1964 | San Francisco Warriors | 1–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1963 | Los Angeles Lakers | 2–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1962 | Los Angeles Lakers | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1961 | St. Louis Hawks | 1–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1960 | St. Louis Hawks | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1959 | Minneapolis Lakers | 0–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | 4–2 | Boston Celtics |
| 1957 | St. Louis Hawks | 3–4 | Boston Celtics |
| 1956 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 1–4 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1955 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 3–4 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1954 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–3 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1953 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–1 | New York Knicks |
| 1952 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–3 | New York Knicks |
| 1951 | Rochester Royals | 4–3 | New York Knicks |
| 1950 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–2 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1949 | Minneapolis Lakers | 4–2 | Washington Capitols |
| 1948 | Baltimore Bullets | 4–2 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1947 | Chicago Stags | 1–4 | Philadelphia Warriors |
NBA Champions
The Boston Celtics are the most successful NBA team in history with 17 Championships. There are often periods where one team dominates the competition such as the Celtics in the 1960’s, Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980’s and 2000’s, the Chicago Bulls in the 1990’s and currently the Golden State Warriors from 2015-2019.
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 17 | 4 | 21 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008 | 1958, 1985, 1987, 2010 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 16 | 15 | 31 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010 | 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2004, 2008 |
| Golden State Warriors | 6 | 5 | 11 | 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018 | 1948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019 |
| Chicago Bulls | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 | — |
| San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 | 2013 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1955, 1967, 1983 | 1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001 |
| Detroit Pistons | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1989, 1990, 2004 | 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2006, 2012, 2013 | 2011, 2014 |
| New York Knicks | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1970, 1973 | 1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999 |
| Houston Rockets | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1994, 1995 | 1981, 1986 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2016 | 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1958 | 1957, 1960, 1961 |
| Washington Wizards | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1978 | 1971, 1975, 1979 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1979 | 1978, 1996, 2012 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1977 | 1990, 1992 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1971 | 1974 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2011 | 2006 |
| Baltimore Bullets | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1948 | — |
| Sacramento Kings | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1951 | — |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2019 | — |
| Phoenix Suns | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1976, 1993 |
| Utah Jazz | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1997, 1998 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 2002, 2003 |
| Orlando Magic | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1995, 2009 |
| Chicago Stags | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1947 |
| Washington Capitols | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1949 |
| Indiana Pacers | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 2000 |
| Charlotte Hornets | — | — | — | — | — |
| Denver Nuggets | — | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles Clippers | — | — | — | — | — |
| Memphis Grizzlies | — | — | — | — | — |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | — | — | — | — | — |
| New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | — | — | — |
NBA History
The Basketball Association of America was founded in 1946. The first NBA game was played on November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada when the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens.
The NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954.
Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics in 1957 and went on to lead the Celtics to eleven NBA titles in thirteen seasons. That run included eight straight championships from 1959 to 1966 which is the longest streak in NBA history.
The NBA evolved with the Minneapolis Lakers moving to Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Warriors relocating to San Francisco, the Syracuse Nationals moving to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers and the St. Louis Hawks moving to Atlanta.
The Chicago Packers became the ninth NBA team in 1961. The NBA saw rapid expansion from 1966 to 1968 when it expanded from 9 to 14 teams. In 1967 the NBA faced a threat from the American Basketball Association (ABA) who succeeded in signing a number of major stars in the 1970s.
From 1966 to 1974 the NBA grew from 9 franchises to 18. Following the 1976 season the ABA and NBA reached a settlement which saw the addition of four ABA franchises to the NBA - San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and New York Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets).
The NBA added the ABA's three-point field goal in 1979. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson joined the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers respectively which saw interest in the NBA grow significantly.
In the 1980s Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA titles and Bird led the Celtics to three NBA titles.
Michael Jordan entered the league in 1984 with the Chicago Bulls. The Detroit Pistons won the back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990 but the Bulls became the dominant force with Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the Bulls to two three-peats in eight years from 1991 to 1998.
Hakeem Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
In 1998 the NBA owners began a lockout that suspended the season until a new labor agreement was reached. Half the season was lost.
In the early 2000's Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships.
The 2008 Finals saw a rematch of the NBA's biggest rivalry, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics won their 17th championship largely thanks to the big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.
In 2011 there was another lockout which resulted in a shortened 66-game season.
LeBron James became the dominant player in the NBA when he switched from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. After four seasons with the Heat, LeBron James returned to the Cavaliers. In 2016 he led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Championship, becoming the first team in history to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
In the 2016-17 season, the Golden State Warriors recruited Kevin Durant. He was the Most Valuable Player in the 2017 NBA Finals and led the team to another Championship in 2018 when the Warriors swept the Cavaliers.
During free agency in 2018 LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors returned to the Finals for the fifth straight year but were beaten 4-2 by the Toronto Raptors who were led by Kawhi Leonard. It was the Raptors' first NBA championship.
On March 11, 2020 the NBA suspended the remainder of its season "until further notice" because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The season restarted on July 30, 2020 with 22 teams playing eight additional regular season games to determine playoff seeding.
