NBA Point Spread Betting Guide for 2025

Betting on the NBA is one of the most popular options at sports betting sites and apps. There are a litany of games to choose from, plus player props are becoming increasingly popular. But it helps to know what you are wagering on before actually placing a bet.

You will have no doubt heard of the point spread for each game. Knowing what the spread is, how it compares to the moneyline, and why it may be a better option are all things to know before betting. Consider this your guide to the point spread in NBA betting and how to place that kind of wager.

What is the Point Spread?

Before we can talk about the point spread, we must first talk about the moneyline. In a game between two teams, the moneyline is simply about which team will win. Each team has odds placed on them in the matchup, sometimes severely in favor of one team.

The point spread is a counter to this. Because the odds can be so unfavorable when it comes to moneyline wagers, bettors often go for the point spread instead. This is a number of points set forth by the sportsbook determining how much the favorite must win by or the underdog must lose within.

Think of the point spread as the great equalizer in terms of odds. A favorite in the NBA might be a -500 favorite, making it less than ideal to wager on them. Point spreads are basically even odds (often -110), providing better potential winnings for bettors.

Point Spread Betting Example

Still not really sure what the point spread looks like? Let’s go with an example. When you sign up for a sportsbook and head to the NBA section, you will see games that each look like this:

• Boston Celtics (-380) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+240)
• Boston Celtics (-6.5, -110) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+6.5, -110)

What does all of this mean? Let’s start with the favorites, the Boston Celtics. This shows us that the Celtics are favored and that they must win by more than 6.5 points in order to cover the spread. If they win by less than that total, or lose the game outright, the bet will not cash.

Conversely, the Lakers are 6.5-point underdogs. This means that they must lose by less than seven points or win the game outright in order to cash the bet. The -110 odds for both indicate that each bet is roughly 50/50 to win.

While it may be “safer” to bet on the Celtics to win outright, you would need to bet $380 to win $100. The risk versus reward simply isn’t tenable. By wagering on the spread instead, you garner better odds and a better return on a winning bet.

Why to Bet the Point Spread vs. the Moneyline?

There is one major reason to wager on the spread versus the moneyline. While the latter may be the “safer” option, it is a tough play for two reasons. For starters, underdogs beat heavy favorites in the NBA all the time. There is no such thing as a “safe” bet. Secondly, the odds can be so severe that the risk of betting on a heavy favorite may not be worth the reward.

The biggest reason to bet the spread is because of the odds. Since odds are roughly 50/50, bettors can earn far more with a correct pick than they would have by simply betting the moneyline on a heavy favorite. Yes, the risk of losing is greater but you can get away with picking fewer spreads successfully and turn a profit.

At the end of the day, it helps to do your homework on each team and matchup. Look at against the spread trends and records, how teams are performing of late, and how they have done against one another in previous matchups. More information is always a good thing in betting.