Basketball point spreads level the playing field to make even the most significant mismatches interesting for basketball bettors.
Find out what the spread means in the NBA and discover how to read basketball spreads with the help of our guide below. We'll also share some expert tips and strategies for tackling NBA spreads when making your NBA picks.
How do point spreads work in basketball?
The point spread is the most popular way to wager when it comes to betting basketball odds. In its simplest form, the point spread levels the playing field in any game, no matter the mismatch.
Here are some key factors oddsmakers consider that affect point spread values in NBA betting:
Team strength: Teams with a strong recent performance and talented rosters are more likely to be favored with a larger point spread. Conversely, weaker teams might receive fewer points.
Home court advantage: Playing at home can provide a significant advantage in the NBA, and this is reflected in the point spread. Home teams are often favored with a few points to account for this advantage.
Injuries: Injuries to key players can have a huge impact on point spreads. If a star player is unavailable or playing at less than 100%, the point spread is likely to adjust in favor of the opponent.
Recent form: A team's recent performance, including its win-loss record and margin of victory, can influence the point spread.
Head-to-head performance: The historical performance of teams against each other can also play a role in setting point spreads, especially if they've played each other recently. If one team has consistently dominated the other, it might be favored with a larger spread.
Game Situation: The specific situation of the game, such as the importance of the matchup, back-to-back games, or travel schedules, can impact point spreads.
Coaching and strategy: The coaching staff's strategies and decisions, especially in close games, can impact point spreads. Some coaches are known for their ability to outperform expectations in clutch time.
How to read basketball spreads
Every point spread has a favorite and an underdog.
The negative value (-) indicates the point spread favorite, and that team must win the game by more than that number for bettors to win their wager. In this example, the New York Knicks are the favorite at -2.5 against the spread (ATS), meaning they would need to win by at least three points to cover the spread.
| Team | Spread |
|---|---|
 Boston Celtics |
+2.5 (-110) |
 New York Knicks |
-2.5 (-110) |
The underdog has a positive value (+) in front of its point spread, and that team can either win outright or lose by less than that spread to win the bet. In this example, the Boston Celtics are the point spread underdog at +2.5, meaning they can win the game or lose by two points or less to cash the bet.
Vig or juice: The cost of placing a bet
Point spread odds include a second set of odds beside them. The odds are known as the vig or the juice and they are the cost of placing the bet. In the example above, the Celtics +2.5 has a vig of -110. This means in order to win $100, a bettor would have to wager $110.
When the vig is a positive number the bettor stands to profit more from the same wager. If the vig was +110, bettors win $110 on a $100 bet.
NBA ATS betting strategies
Now that you know how NBA spreads work, here are some point spread betting tips and strategies to follow.
Beat the closing number
NBA odds are usually posted around 24 hours before tipoff but can be as late as the morning off the game. And as the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. NBA point spread lines see the most movement shortly after sportsbooks post them.
There isn’t much that gets past NBA oddsmakers these days regarding NBA injuries and current form. Still, the best way to find market inefficiencies is to bet early before the numbers settle in. That said, make sure to shop around and find the best number. Not all books are the same. Use our odds comparison tool to find the best price for your best.
Count on current form on the court
Basketball is a game of runs. It isn’t out of the norm to see 20-point swings in individual games, so hot and cold streaks are commonplace. Before placing a spread bet, check to see how a team has been shooting over a week or so.
Are they scorching the mesh or shooting bricks? You can sometimes find point spread value with a bad team on a hot shooting streak, or vice versa. Use our NBA teams page to research how a team has done lately.
Know your NBA matchups
Just like in any other sport, basketball teams have strengths and weaknesses. When trying to find the best NBA point spread bets, look closely at how teams match up against that day’s opponent by using our scores and matchups page.
If a team struggles to defend on the perimeter and faces an elite 3-point shooting team, make sure you account for how that could change the narrative and bet accordingly.
Track Injuries and load management
An 82-game NBA season can be a grind. Like any other major sport, injuries can play a significant role in determining a team’s success when covering a point spread. NBA superstars will carry the most impact on basketball odds whether they’re playing or not. Still, there may be only one or two players (sometimes even none) on a team that will move a line depending on their availability.
Load management has become the trendy phrase around the NBA to help those superstars with the grind. Too many games in a week? Take the day off. Some players, mainly if they are just off an injury, won’t play on back-to-back nights. Make sure to keep a close eye on our injury page to see who might be in or out.
NBA betting tips and strategies
Make smarter NBA bets with Covers. These guides dive into other ways you can bet on NBA action:
NBA Moneyline Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Over/Under Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Parlay Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Prop Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Advanced Handicapping Tips and Strategies
NBA point spread FAQs
The point spread in basketball means the number of points made by an oddsmaker that separates the two teams in a given matchup to handicap a game.
A push in NBA spread betting is when the final result falls on the exact number of the point spread.
You can place an NBA point spread bet at any regulated sportsbook in person or online. Check our betting sites reviews for the best legal online sportsbook options in your region.
The odds for the point spread show a favorite and an underdog. The point spread favorite is indicated by the negative value (-) in front of the number, while the underdog has a positive value (+).
Sure, you can. You can bet point spreads for individual quarters and halves. You can even live bet point spreads during the game.
