NBA gamblers, rejoice! Basketball is back. Well, almost. 22 NBA teams are quarantining in a Disney World bubble and preparing to tip-off on July 30. The remaining teams will play eight regular-season games to close out the 2020 basketball season before continuing with a slightly altered NBA playoff format. The changes give hopes to a few teams who were on the outside looking in before the Adam Silver and the NBA suspended the season.
Recent NBA Betting Article: Updated NBA Futures Odds, Series Prices & Best Bets
Yes, betting on the NBA playoffs is legal and USA gamblers have two options. They can wager with a domestic sportsbook located regionally, or they can visit an online sportsbook operating legally outside of the United States. The Heat are a playoff-best 9-2 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes. And when the Lakers have gotten down double digits, they aren't built to come back. Bet on if a team will make the NBA playoffs. Bet on NBA win totals. Bet on NBA MVP / Rookie of Year / Defensive Player of Year / Coach of Year / Sixth Man. Bet on the NBA All-Star game. Bet on the NBA 3-point shootout. Bet on the NBA dunk contest. Bet on the NBA draft. Bet on the NBA lottery. Betting On Basketball Totals Betting on the total points scored in a game is a very popular form of betting on basketball. Depending on the league or tournament, the number of points scored will vary significantly. In the NBA, point totals will land in the range of 180 to 220 points game to game, with the average in the mid 190 point range.
Basketball will officially resume more than two months after the league pulled NBA teams from the court March 17 due to positive COVID-19 tests among players. The novel virus subsequently led to the cancellation of March Madness and put the NHL, MLB, and PGA Tour all in limbo.
It has been a long hiatus for sports bettors, leaving little for us to bet on, but action does seem to be returning. NHL announced a similar approach to extend the Stanley Cup Playoffs, golf betting has resumed thanks to the PGA Tour's return in June, and the Nationals and Yankees headline MLB Opening Day on Thursday, July 23.
Here are the key details to know about the NBA's format and schedule:
Who: 16 current playoff teams, plus nine teams within six games of the eighth seeds of their conference
When: July 30 – Oct. 12
Where: Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Format: Eight-game regular season extension, play-in tournament for the eight and nine seeds (tentative), playoffs
The NBA returns one week after MLB Opening Day, with night games between the Utah Jazz and New Orleans followed by the Clippers vs the Lakers. Read our NBA ‘Opening Night' preview here and find out who we're picking at online sports betting sites
- $1000 Risk-Free Bet
- Beginner Friendly
- Trusted name
2020 NBA Futures Odds
All odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, accurate as of July 21, 2020.
- Milwaukee Bucks +240
- Los Angeles Lakers +260
- Los Angeles Clippers +320
- Houston Rockets +1700
- Boston Celtics +1800
- Toronto Raptors +2000
- Philadelphia 76ers +2500
- Denver Nuggets +2700
- Philadelphia 76ers +2700
- Miami Heat +3000
- Utah Jazz +3300
- Dallas Mavericks +3800
- Indiana Pacers +10000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
- Brooklyn Nets +16000
- New Orleans Pelicans +16000
- Memphis Grizzlies +21000
- Portland Trail Blazers +21000
- San Antonio Spurs +21000
- Orlando Magic +25000
- Phoenix Suns +25000
- Sacramento Kings +25000
- Washington Wizards +25000
NBA Playoffs Storylines
Current top-seeds Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers have solid 5.5 and 6.5-game cushions, respectively. With only eight regular-season games remaining, the Bucks and Lakers should maintain the position when they head into the playoffs.
However, with every game taking place in Orlando and without fans, home-court advantage will be obsolete. The biggest seeding battles to watch are toward the bottom of the current playoff standings.
Watch Out for Zion and the Pelicans?
The New Orleans Pelicans have crept into the playoff race, and suddenly, with the possibility of a play-in game between the eighth and ninth seeds, the Pelicans might have a chance to show off rookie phenom Zion Williamson on the biggest stage.
Williamson made his NBA debut on January 22, and since then the former Duke Blue Devil has exceeded the expectations that he carried into the league as the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Pelicans are 10-9 with Williamson on the court. His impact is accentuated when you consider New Orleans started the season with a 6-22 record. Williamson's playing time was restricted early on, but the Pelicans are 8-3 against the spread after giving him the green light.
Williamson has also dominated his points props, averaging 23.6 per game while adding nearly 7 rebounds per contest.
With the extra rest, Zion's presence and workload are likely to increase even more. For teams like the Lakers and Clippers, the playoffs don't officially start until after the eight regular-season games in Orlando, but teams like the Pelicans who are currently on the outside looking in will be playoff mode from the start.
I for one am rooting for a Pelicans vs. Lakers, Zion vs. LeBron first-round matchup.
- Use Promo Code RG2K
- Name Your Own Bets
- NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-IA
Best Nba Playoffs Ever
NBA Futures Betting Advice
Historically, the NBA playoffs have not been kind to underdogs. Only three No. 8 seeds won in the first round as favorites consistently dominate in their best-of-seven series. This year, however, there's some added uncertainty. So how should you attack U.S. sportsbooks when looking at NBA futures odds?
In a blog post, economist Tyler Cowen asks tackles a related question: which NBA teams will gain in relative prospects from the shutdown?
His answer is the teams with the most valuable stars. For example, the top stars like LeBron James typically have their own private gyms and work-out rooms in their homes. On the other hand, there's the report that only two Miami Heat players had basketball hoops available to practice on during quarantine.
Additionally, Cowen points out that the most valuable stars in the NBA are more accustomed to unusual circumstances (think All-star games and Olympics), and less reliant on their home-court crowd for support than role players.
All things considered, Cowen might be right that the Lakers have gained the most in relative terms, making it difficult to bet against them. But also watch out for teams like the Rockets, at least in the first round or two of the playoffs.
In the past, Harden has seemed to gas out in the playoffs, but that shouldn't be the case this time. Also, Houston's scoring is dominated by James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who make up 52.5% percent of the Rockets' 118 ppg. Westbrook was diagnosed with coronavirus two weeks ago, which delayed his arrival to Orland. However, the former MVP rejoined the Rockets on Monday. Houston should be ready to go by the time the regular season is officially over and the NBA playoffs begin.
Be sure to check back as we update this page with relevant NBA playoffs wagering information in upcoming weeks. For more general betting tips, check out our NBA guide.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs are set to begin this Monday, August 17th. The NBA bubble in Orlando has been a success to this point. The teams played their final 8 regular season games and the seedings are now set for the NBA Playoff tournament to begin.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs will run through August and September with the NBA Finals expected to get underway on September 30th.
On this page I will give you all the information you need to bet on the NBA Playoffs from the US. Below I've provided three top rated betting sites, looked at some of the different bets you can make on the NBA Playoffs, and finished up with a simple 3 step guide you can follow to place your bets online.
Best Sportsbook For Americans
| Sportsbook | Rating | Bonus | Review | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% up to $1000 | ||||
| 100% up to $250 | ||||
| 50% up to $1000 |
These are our three top rated betting sites for US residents. Check out any of the reviews from the table above to learn more about the details of each site.
I will be using our top rated betting site, SportsBetting.ag, for all examples and our betting guide below.
That said, it's always important to compare odds between sportsbooks to ensure you're getting the best return on each bet. For this reason I would suggest opening accounts with each of the sites listed above if you plan on betting on a regular basis.
NBA Series Winner Betting
My favorite bet during the NBA Playoffs is wagering on which team will win a series. These bets give you entertainment value for the entire series and in the NBA the best team will generally advance, so if your prediction is correct your bet will usually win.
Here is a screenshot of the series odds for the Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers first round series:
How To Bet Nba Games
At SportsBetting.ag you will find the series odds under the ‘Basketball' drop down menu by selecting ‘NBA SERIES'.
NBA Championship Futures Betting
Another popular NBA Playoffs wager is betting on which team will lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the NBA Champion.
Here are the odds for the NBA Champion from SportsBetting.ag just before the playoffs began.
You can wager on the NBA Champion throughout the playoffs. The odds will change as teams advance through the playoffs. These odds can be found on the SportsBetting website by selecting ‘NBA Futures' under the ‘Basketball' drop down menu.
NBA Playoff Games Betting
The most common bets on NBA Playoff games are still the spread, money line and total points bets. There are also plenty of extra prop betting options on each game during the playoffs.
Here is a screenshot of the odds for game 1 between the Mavs and Clippers at SportsBetting.ag:
Watch Out for Zion and the Pelicans?
The New Orleans Pelicans have crept into the playoff race, and suddenly, with the possibility of a play-in game between the eighth and ninth seeds, the Pelicans might have a chance to show off rookie phenom Zion Williamson on the biggest stage.
Williamson made his NBA debut on January 22, and since then the former Duke Blue Devil has exceeded the expectations that he carried into the league as the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Pelicans are 10-9 with Williamson on the court. His impact is accentuated when you consider New Orleans started the season with a 6-22 record. Williamson's playing time was restricted early on, but the Pelicans are 8-3 against the spread after giving him the green light.
Williamson has also dominated his points props, averaging 23.6 per game while adding nearly 7 rebounds per contest.
With the extra rest, Zion's presence and workload are likely to increase even more. For teams like the Lakers and Clippers, the playoffs don't officially start until after the eight regular-season games in Orlando, but teams like the Pelicans who are currently on the outside looking in will be playoff mode from the start.
I for one am rooting for a Pelicans vs. Lakers, Zion vs. LeBron first-round matchup.
- Use Promo Code RG2K
- Name Your Own Bets
- NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-IA
Best Nba Playoffs Ever
NBA Futures Betting Advice
Historically, the NBA playoffs have not been kind to underdogs. Only three No. 8 seeds won in the first round as favorites consistently dominate in their best-of-seven series. This year, however, there's some added uncertainty. So how should you attack U.S. sportsbooks when looking at NBA futures odds?
In a blog post, economist Tyler Cowen asks tackles a related question: which NBA teams will gain in relative prospects from the shutdown?
His answer is the teams with the most valuable stars. For example, the top stars like LeBron James typically have their own private gyms and work-out rooms in their homes. On the other hand, there's the report that only two Miami Heat players had basketball hoops available to practice on during quarantine.
Additionally, Cowen points out that the most valuable stars in the NBA are more accustomed to unusual circumstances (think All-star games and Olympics), and less reliant on their home-court crowd for support than role players.
All things considered, Cowen might be right that the Lakers have gained the most in relative terms, making it difficult to bet against them. But also watch out for teams like the Rockets, at least in the first round or two of the playoffs.
In the past, Harden has seemed to gas out in the playoffs, but that shouldn't be the case this time. Also, Houston's scoring is dominated by James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who make up 52.5% percent of the Rockets' 118 ppg. Westbrook was diagnosed with coronavirus two weeks ago, which delayed his arrival to Orland. However, the former MVP rejoined the Rockets on Monday. Houston should be ready to go by the time the regular season is officially over and the NBA playoffs begin.
Be sure to check back as we update this page with relevant NBA playoffs wagering information in upcoming weeks. For more general betting tips, check out our NBA guide.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs are set to begin this Monday, August 17th. The NBA bubble in Orlando has been a success to this point. The teams played their final 8 regular season games and the seedings are now set for the NBA Playoff tournament to begin.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs will run through August and September with the NBA Finals expected to get underway on September 30th.
On this page I will give you all the information you need to bet on the NBA Playoffs from the US. Below I've provided three top rated betting sites, looked at some of the different bets you can make on the NBA Playoffs, and finished up with a simple 3 step guide you can follow to place your bets online.
Best Sportsbook For Americans
| Sportsbook | Rating | Bonus | Review | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% up to $1000 | ||||
| 100% up to $250 | ||||
| 50% up to $1000 |
These are our three top rated betting sites for US residents. Check out any of the reviews from the table above to learn more about the details of each site.
I will be using our top rated betting site, SportsBetting.ag, for all examples and our betting guide below.
That said, it's always important to compare odds between sportsbooks to ensure you're getting the best return on each bet. For this reason I would suggest opening accounts with each of the sites listed above if you plan on betting on a regular basis.
NBA Series Winner Betting
My favorite bet during the NBA Playoffs is wagering on which team will win a series. These bets give you entertainment value for the entire series and in the NBA the best team will generally advance, so if your prediction is correct your bet will usually win.
Here is a screenshot of the series odds for the Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers first round series:
How To Bet Nba Games
At SportsBetting.ag you will find the series odds under the ‘Basketball' drop down menu by selecting ‘NBA SERIES'.
NBA Championship Futures Betting
Another popular NBA Playoffs wager is betting on which team will lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy as the NBA Champion.
Here are the odds for the NBA Champion from SportsBetting.ag just before the playoffs began.
You can wager on the NBA Champion throughout the playoffs. The odds will change as teams advance through the playoffs. These odds can be found on the SportsBetting website by selecting ‘NBA Futures' under the ‘Basketball' drop down menu.
NBA Playoff Games Betting
The most common bets on NBA Playoff games are still the spread, money line and total points bets. There are also plenty of extra prop betting options on each game during the playoffs.
Here is a screenshot of the odds for game 1 between the Mavs and Clippers at SportsBetting.ag:
Check out our basketball betting page for a full breakdown of each of these popular NBA wagers.
How To Bet On NBA Playoffs – 3 Step Guide
Follow this three step guide to bet on the NBA Playoffs online from anywhere in the USA.
Step 1. Join SportsBetting.ag
Click the above link and fill out the short form on the home page to open your betting account.
Step 2. Deposit Funds
After logging into your account click on the ‘Deposit Now' or ‘Cashier' links. Select your deposit method and enter your deposit amount, then follow the instructions to fund your account.
SportsBetting accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Skrill, Neteller, and a variety of other deposit methods. You can also cash out your winnings via bank wire or check through the mail.
Step 3. Place Your NBA Playoffs Bets
It's now time to place your NBA Playoffs wagers!
- Click ‘Sports' from the top menu bar.
- Open the ‘Basketball' drop down menu and select any of the ‘NBA' related links to find the bet you want to make.
- Select the odds for the wager your want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Click ‘Straight Bet' and enter your risk amount.
- Click ‘Place my bet' to lock in your wager.
It's that easy. Ready to bet? Click here to visit SportsBetting.ag.
NBA • NBA betting • NBA Playoffs
