In point-spread NBA betting, both sides of a bet pay the same. If Portland won by exactly 5, the bet would be a “push” and all bettors would receive their bet amount back. If you bet on Golden State at +5, a winning bet on them would result from them either winning the game outright or if they lose by a number under 5. If you bet on the Blazers at -5, they must win the game by at least 6 for the bet to be a winner. In other words, the Trail Blazers are 5-point favorites, with the Warriors being 5-point underdogs. You see Golden State is playing Portland, with the Warriors at +5 and the Trail Blazers at -5. One team is a favorite by that number of points, while the other team is an underdog by that same number of points. A point-spread is a number given to both teams in a game.
The Point-Spread: A good starting point is the point-spread, an element that rules all standard NBA betting.
They neither require good math or an advanced understanding of betting. There are simply a few different numerical representations you need to know. Spending a little time with the concepts will have you up to speed before you know it. While winning money on NBA wagering is supremely difficult, understanding the odds are really a cinch.
