NBA Playoff Odds Betting Explained
The NBA Playoffs have changed in recent years, with the Play-In Tournament starting during the 2019-2020 season in the bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Each conference—the East and West—will have 10 teams in the postseason, with the No. 7 and No. 8 seed and No. 9 and No. 10 seed playing each other.
The winner of the No. 7 and No. 8 seed matchup cements themselves as the No. 7 seed and takes on the No. 2 seed. As for the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup, the winner faces the losing team in the No.7 vs. No. 8 matchup to earn the No. 8 seed. The No. 8 seed plays the No. 1 seed. After this is settled, each conference will have eight teams. There are three series in each conference leading up to the NBA Finals.
Each series can last up to seven games. So, you’ll have multiple opportunities to place wagers on NBA playoff betting odds. We’ll discuss the various ways below.
How does NBA Playoff Odds Betting Work?
When the NBA postseason arrives, there are numerous ways you can wager. You can bet on the Play-In Tournament, which is a single-game elimination. From there, you can wager on individual games in each series leading up to the championship.
You’ll also have the opportunity to bet on NBA futures throughout the playoffs and before it begins, which we’ll discuss later.
How To Read NBA Playoff Lines
Reading the odds for NBA playoff bets are similar across the board, regardless of which way you want to bet.
You’ll see “-” or “+” odds for all bet types.
To better understand these, we’ll explain it through winning or wagering $100.
- With “-,” the number associated with it is how much you’d need to wager to win $100. For example, if you had -200 odds, you’d need to wager $200 to win $100.
- Conversely, with “+” odds, you’ll win whatever the number associated with it is when you wager $100. For example, if you have +200 odds, you’d win $200 with a $100 wager.
You’ll see a single betting line with “-” or “+” odds for futures bets.
For individual games, you’ll see this for NBA moneyline wagers, but if you’re interested in point spread betting, yes, you’ll read the odds the same, but you’ll need to factor in the “-” or “+” point spread number.
For example, if a team is -4.5 on the point spread, they’ll need to win the game and do so by out-scoring the other team by five or more. The opposing team would then have a point spread of +4.5, meaning they can cover with an outright win or a loss by four or fewer points.
Our favorite bookmakers for NBA playoffs
1.
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
Players from Virginia accepted
2.
5 x $50Bet Credits
Players from Virginia accepted
3.
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Players from Virginia accepted
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
4.
100% up to $500
Players from Virginia accepted
5.
100% up to $100
Players from Virginia accepted
NBA Playoff Odds: The Different Betting Markets
As mentioned, there are multiple ways to bet on the NBA Playoffs. Below, we’ll review the various futures betting markets and individual game options. We’ll be focusing on wagers before the NBA Finals.
1. NBA Playoff Odds Betting: Individual Games
Before diving into the futures betting markets, you should know how you can bet on individual NBA playoff games.
The moneyline is the easiest and most straightforward way to bet on the NBA playoffs. With this bet, you’re simply picking which team you think will win the game outright.
Even in the NBA Playoffs, which feature the best teams in the league, there are going to be teams that are better than one another, especially for that opening No. 1 vs. No. 8 or No. 2 vs. No. 7 seven matchups. The NBA point spread is a number generated by the online sportsbook in an attempt to make the teams as even as possible while accounting for their strengths and weaknesses. As mentioned above, you’ll need to keep in mind the -4.5 points or +4.5 points (example odds). The NBA odds on this wager are always at or around -110.
Also known as over/under betting, totals allow you to wager on the combined number of points scored in a game. When betting, you’ll see a totals line, and you’ll wager on whether the final score will go over or under. Like point spread betting, the odds are always at or around -110.
Throughout the playoffs, there will be multiple games taking place in a single day. With parlays, you’ll be able to bet on these games under one betslip. The benefits of this are that you’ll have excellent odds, but it comes at the risk of needing all games you add to the betslip to win. So, if you had two moneyline wagers and one team won and the other lost, you’d still lose the wager as all contests on the parlay must succeed for a winning ticket.
This is the same concept as a traditional parlay, with the only difference being you’re focused on an individual game. For example, you could parlay together the moneyline and a totals wager.
The most popular prop betting markets for the NBA Playoffs are player, game, and team. Of the three, player props are easily the most popular as you’re betting on the statistical performance of individual players. With these NBA prop bets, you’ll have a line similar to totals wagers, in which you’ll wager whether they go over or under the assigned prop line. For example, you could wager on Ja Morant’s total points of 24.5 and wager whether it’ll exceed or fall short of that.
2. NBA Playoff Odds from Vegas for “To Make Playoffs”
Before the playoffs begin, you’ll find that multiple NBA sportsbooks will offer betting lines for specific teams to make the playoffs. These are typically reserved for teams on the fringe of making the postseason while excluding those mathematically eliminated or already in.
These bets will have two options for “yes” and “no,” with a betting line for each.
3. Playoffs Odds For NBA Betting: “Winner Specials” Betting Market
Using DraftKings Sportsbook as an example, it’s not uncommon to find various unique playoff-based betting markets. These are bets such as which conference wins the championship, which division, the state from the winning team, and more. There will be multiple options per market.
4. NBA Playoffs Betting Lines: Conference Winner
As mentioned, 10 teams make the playoffs in each conference. So, depending on the time you want to make a conference winner futures wager, you’ll have varying levels of value.
For this bet, there will be a list of teams eligible to be wagered on, with a betting line attached to each.
5. Vegas Odds NBA Playoffs: Division Winner
The NBA has six divisions: Pacific, Central, Southwest, Atlantic, Northwest, and Southeast. Before and during the season, you’ll be able to wager on the winner of each, which directly ties into whether or not they’ll make the postseason. While the seeding is based on the record and not directly due to their division finish like other sports, the top teams will likely not only make the playoffs but be one of the higher seeds.
Getting Started On NBA Playoff Odds Betting
- Review our online sportsbook reviews to find which site you want to play at that’s available in your state.
- Visit their desktop site or download the mobile app.
- Create an account.
- Make your first deposit.
- Head over to the NBA betting page and locate the futures betting markets and individual games (when the postseason is actively happening).
- Select what you want to wager on, add it to your betslip, and confirm your wager.
Claim our top bonus offers
1.
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
2.
5 x $50Bet Credits
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $10
3.
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Players from Virginia accepted
Min. Deposit: $10
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
4.
100% up to $500
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
5.
100% up to $100
Players from Virginia accepted
Requirements (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Conclusion on NBA Playoff Odds Betting
With a potential for more than 60 total games to wager on, NBA playoffs odds betting presents you with multiple avenues to cash in, whether you want to focus on a specific game or the postseason as a whole.
As is the case with most wagers, each sportsbook will have not only its own unique odds and betting lines but there could also be fun and innovative betting markets such as the “winner specials” from DraftKings Sportsbook.
The 2023 NBA Playoffs begin on April 11 with the Play-In Tournament, so be sure to place your futures wagers now and get ready to bet on each game as we progress toward the NBA Finals.
Shop
Podcasts
BallIsLife.com
Picks & Predictions
News
