Best NBA betting tips Best NBA betting tips

The 5 Best NBA Basketball Betting Tips

Sunbet
08/10/2024

More and more South Africans are betting on sports online, which is something that only a select few enjoyed in the recent past. With over a third of the country now owning smartphones, this is a market that increasing numbers of sportsbook makers are investing in. 

Among the favourite sports and leagues to bet on online is NBA basketball. If you’re new to world sports betting and you’re looking for NBA basketball betting tips, read on - Sunbet has you covered. We’ve compiled all you need to know as a South African online player to make the most of your online betting experience.

What is NBA Basketball? 

The NBA is the National Basketball Association, one of the biggest professional basketball leagues in the world. Composed of 30 basketball teams - one from Canada and the rest from the USA - the NBA was founded in New York on 6 June 1946. 

The NBA is divided into the Eastern and Western Conference. The Eastern Conference has 14 USA teams and 1 Canadian team, and the Western Conference contains 15 teams, all from the USA.

Western Conference 

  1. Los Angeles Lakers
  2. Phoenix Suns
  3. LA Clippers
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder
  5. Golden State Warriors
  6. Houston Rockets
  7. Utah Jazz
  8. Denver Nuggets
  9. Minnesota Timberwolves
  10. Dallas Mavericks
  11. Memphis Grizzlies
  12. San Antonio Spurs
  13. New Orleans Pelicans
  14. Sacramento Kings
  15. Portland Trail Blazers

Eastern Conference 

  1. Toronto Raptors
  2. Chicago Bulls
  3. Miami Heat
  4. New York Knicks
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Boston Celtics
  7. Atlanta Hawks
  8. Philadelphia 76ers
  9. Brooklyn Nets
  10. Orlando Magic
  11. Cleveland Cavaliers
  12. Washington Wizards
  13. Milwaukee Bucks
  14. Charlotte Hornets
  15. Indiana Pacers

This is vital information that you need to arm yourself with before you get stuck into the different betting types and tips.

How Does the NBA Work?

A season contains 82 games, resulting in eight playoff spots in total. Only 16 teams make the playoffs in each season - eight from each conference. Eight non-division-winning teams are decided by the four highest records from each conference. 

A team must win three games from their conference and then compete against the team from the opposing conference. The finals consist of seven games, with teams from the East and West competing for the number one spot.

Types of Basketball Markets 

Before you get started, you might want to explore different types of basketball markets to gauge which suits your betting style or the moment. We've listed them in detail so you can make informed decisions: 

NBA Point Totals 

Also known as Over/Under, Totals can be game- or team-centric. Sunbet will set a total of points from both teams before the game. You can choose to bet more, less, or a combined score of our total.

NBA Player Markets 

A player market bet or team prop bet is when you bet on team or player statistics. You predict whether the team/player will accomplish or fall short of the projected statistic. 

NBA Handicaps 

The handicap market is when a statistically weaker player or team plays against a stronger team. If the weaker team wins, the payout will likely be higher than if the stronger team wins. Stronger teams will almost always have lower odds, and the weaker teams will be given higher odds.

Different Types of NBA Basketball Bets 

Acca 

In an acca bet, you group different sporting markets, game results, and other outcomes in one bet. These can be from the same game or combined from various games or leagues. A solid knowledge of the sport is vital when betting an acca bet, as each element needs to win. If one element loses, your entire collection or acca is lost. 

Doubles

A double bet is when two selections are grouped together in one bet. For example, placing a bet each from two different games on the same bet. To win, both your selections need to be correct. 

Treble

When you place three bets from three different games, you need all three to be successful to win. This type of bet is called a treble. 

Fourfold

When you place four bets from four different games, you need all four to be successful to win. This type of bet is called a fourfold. A fivefold works the same way, but in fives instead of fours. 

NBA Betting Tips

Our odds spread will reflect the number of points a team will need to obtain at the end of the game in order for the bet to pay out. These are some of the best NBA betting tips to ensure that you’re getting a good online gaming experience:

1. Research

Make sure that you do your research. Check who the best players are, if there are any injuries, how the play-offs work, and which teams are performing well enough for you to place your bet on.

2. Watch Trends & Predictions

Watch sports news, read up on as much NBA basketball news as possible, and check if there are any special events that will affect your betting decisions. Player performance, away games, homeground advantage, or neutral grounds may have an influence on the game outcome. Team starting lineups are also vital to check, and if you’re starting out, you could bet on friendly matches where the stakes are not that high.

3. Check Schedules

Sometimes basketball teams will be given long pause periods between games. This is usually a good thing for their performance in the next game, although it does not decide whether a team will win or not. The team with the shorter pause period might still 

win the game.

4. Bet on Underdogs

While the favourite teams can be trusted to win, they could have key player injuries or be in bad form, ultimately losing the game. This is why we recommend diversifying your bets by betting on the underdog. The risk is lower and the payouts are better.

5. Bet at Reputable Sportsbooks

To prevent loss, we advise that you bet on safe and trustworthy online sportsbooks like Sunbet. There are certain things to look out for when vetting the site:

  • Check whether the site is licensed by a credible regulator
  • Is live assistance readily available?
  • Have a look at the payout track record 

Check the kinds of odds the site offers, and whether their rules are clear and easy to understand.

How to Bet on NBA Games

Sunbet offers win/lose or draws. Take a look at our NBA odds, as we update them often. If you’ve bet on any kind of sport before, you’ve done half the legwork. Basketball betting is not that different, although there are - of course - some nuances. Here is how to bet on NBA games online. 

Register today, get the best basketball betting tips, and play some of the best odds in the market. Visit www.sunbet.co.za and click on Sign Up. You'll be asked to enter your personal details. Create a username and a strong password, select 'Sports Bets', choose 'Basketball' on the left panel, then select 'NBA' from the 'Browse Leagues' tab.

Get the Sunbet Sportsbook Experience

Once you’ve armed yourself with all the knowledge you need to make the best of your NBA betting experience, sign up to get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit. Sunbet is the only sports bookmaker in South Africa that offers live in-play cashouts.

Come Alive and start betting on NBA basketball using our tips on Sunbet today, and you could stand to WIN up to R20 million in payouts. You can play 24/7 online slots, table games, lucky numbers, virtuals, crash games and more - Anytime, Anywhere! 

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