Betting on NBA games can be exciting and rewarding once you understand the basics. Whether you’re new to sports betting or looking to sharpen your hoops wagering skills, this guide will walk you through the essentials – from point spreads and moneylines to over/unders. We’ll also dive into some unique NBA factors (like player rest and playoff intensity) that can affect your bets. Hopefully, this will help you bet on NBA games with confidence. Let’s jump in! Understanding NBA Point Spreads Point spreads are the most popular way to bet on NBA games. In each matchup, bookmakers set a margin of points that the favored team is expected to win by. When you bet on the favorite, you “lay” the points – meaning that the team needs to win by more than the spread for your bet to cash. If you bet on the underdog, you “take” the points – your bet wins if the underdog wins outright or loses by fewer points than the spread. Essentially, you’re wagering on how many...