🏀NBA Basketball Betting 101: Starter Guide to Bet Types

Basketball betting might look complicated at first, but once you understand the basic types of bets, it gets easier—and a lot more fun. Whether you're betting casually or want to develop a long-term edge, this guide covers every major NBA bet type in plain English, with real-world examples and Spanish translations.

We’ve also included simple, relatable examples to help you bet smarter from day one. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Standard Game Bets

• Same Game Parlays (SGP)

• Quarter & Half Bets

• Player Props

• Team Props

• Game Props

  
  

This is your go-to starter guide to NBA betting. Let’s break it all down:

🏀 Standard Game Bets

Bet Type	Meaning
Moneyline (To Win) - ML	Pick the team you think will win the game outright.
Spread (Point Spread)	Bet on a team to win or not lose by more than the set number of points.
Total Points (Over/Under)	Bet on the total combined points to go over or under a set number.
Team Total Points (O/U)	Bet on whether one team's total points will go over or under a set number.
Alternate Spreads / Totals	Adjusted spreads or totals with different odds.
Race to X Points	Bet on which team will reach a specific number of points first.
Winning Margin	Bet on how many points a team will win by.
Odd/Even Total Points	Bet if the total score will be an odd or even number.
Game to Go to Overtime	Bet whether the game will go to OT or not.
First to Score	Bet on which team will score first.
Team to Score First / Last	Bet on which team will score the first and/or last basket.

📂 Real Examples

• Moneyline: Warriors ML = Warriors to win the game outright.

• Spread: Celtics -4.5 = Celtics must win by 5 or more points.

Same Game Parlay (SGP)

Bet Type	Meaning (English)
Same Game Parlay	A custom parlay from multiple bets in the same game.

📊 Example

• Lakers ML + LeBron Over 25.5 Points + Over 218.5 Total Points = All must hit to win.

Quarter & Half Bets

Bet Type	Meaning (English)
1st Quarter Winner / Spread / Total	Bet on winner/spread/total for Q1.
2nd / 3rd / 4th Quarter Lines	Same as above for each quarter.
1st Half Winner / Spread / Total	Bet on winner/spread/total for the first half.
2nd Half Winner / Spread / Total	Bet on same for the second half.
Team Total Points Per Period	Bet on a team’s total in a specific half or quarter.

📂 Real Examples

• 1st Half Over 112.5 Total Points = Both teams must combine for 113+ in the first half.

• 2nd Quarter: Bucks -1.5 = Bucks must outscore opponent by 2+ in Q2.

Player Props

Bet Type	Meaning (English)
Points (Over/Under)	Bet if a player scores over or under a set number.
Assists (O/U)	Bet on player’s total assists.
Rebounds (O/U)	Bet on player’s total rebounds.
Points + Assists	Combined total of points and assists by a player.
Points + Rebounds	Combined total of points and rebounds.
Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA)	Total of all three major stats for a player.
Three-Pointers Made	Bet how many 3PT shots a player will hit.
Blocks / Steals	Bet on defensive stats. Often combined.
Double-Double / Triple-Double	Bet on a player recording double/triple digits in multiple stats.
Player to Record X+ Points	Bet on a player to score a certain minimum amount.
First Basket Scorer	Bet on who will score the first point of the game.
Player Fantasy Score	Bet on a player’s fantasy score (if offered).

📂 Real Examples

• Jayson Tatum Over 26.5 Points = Must score 27+ points.

• Jokic to record a Triple-Double (+400) = Needs 10+ in 3 stat categories.

Team Props

Bet Type	Meaning (English)
Team To Win Each Quarter	Bet a team wins all four quarters individually.
Highest Scoring Quarter	Bet which quarter will have the most points.
Largest Lead	Bet on the biggest lead held by either team.
Both Teams To Score 100+ Points	Bet both teams will score 100 or more.
Exact Points Range (e.g., 101–110)	Bet on the exact point range a team will finish in.
Halftime/Fulltime Result	Bet on which team leads at halftime and who wins overall.

📂 Real Examples

• Highest Scoring Quarter: Q3 (+350) = Q3 must have most combined points.

• Halftime/Fulltime: Heat/Heat (+180) = Heat must lead at half and win game.

Game Props

Bet Type	Meaning (English)
Total Combined Rebounds	Bet on total rebounds by both teams combined.
Total Combined Assists	Bet on total assists by both teams.
Total 3PT Made (Team/Game)	Bet on how many 3s will be made.
Technical Fouls / Ejections	Bet on whether there will be techs or ejections.
Total Turnovers	Bet on combined total turnovers in the game.

📂 Real Examples

• Over 20.5 Total Made Threes = All players combined must hit 21+ 3s.

• Over 28.5 Combined Assists = All players combined must dish out 29 or more.

🧠 Pro Tip for Beginners Start with Moneylines, Spreads, and Totals—they're easier to track and predict. Once you're comfortable, explore Player Props and Parlays. Stick to 1–2 bet types until you build confidence.

Final ThoughtsBasketball betting becomes way more enjoyable when you actually understand what you’re betting on. Use this guide as a reference whenever you’re unsure. Test different bet types slowly and always bet responsibly.

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