Best NBA Betting Tips (August 2025)

The NBA is massive in Australia and we have a long history of players making their way in the league, such as Patty Mills, Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles and more. So it makes sense that NBA betting is a popular pastime. In this NBA betting sites guide, we will talk everything NBA tips, such as the best sites to use and some strategies to follow. Let’s go!

Best NBA Betting Sites

NBA Explained: Rules, Structure & Format

The NBA (National Basketball Association) is arguably the best professional Basketball league on the planet and Aussies simply love it. In my view, understanding the rules and structure can help you enjoy NBA betting action and also bet smarter in the long run. Here is a quick overview of how the league is setup at the moment.

Basic Rules

  • Game Length: 4 quarters of 12 minutes each, with overtime if scores are tied.
  • Team Size: 5 players on court per team, with up to 15 on the roster.
  • Scoring:
    • Field goal = 2 points (inside the arc)
    • Three-pointer = 3 points (outside the arc)
    • Free throw = 1 point
  • Fouls: Players foul out after 6 personal fouls; team fouls lead to free throws.
  • Shot Clock: Teams must attempt a shot within 24 seconds.

League Structure

  • Teams: 30 total
    • Western Conference (15 teams)
    • Eastern Conference (15 teams)
  • Each conference is divided into 3 divisions (5 teams each).
  • Regular Season: 82 games per team (October to April).

Play-In Tournament

  • Introduced in 2021, adds extra excitement before the main playoffs.
  • Teams ranked 7th-10th in each conference enter the play-in:
    • 7th vs 8th, winner gets 7th seed.
    • 9th vs 10th, loser eliminated.
    • Loser of 7/8 vs winner of 9/10, winner gets 8th seed.

NBA Playoffs Format

  • 16 teams qualify (8 from each conference).
  • All playoff rounds are best-of-7 series.
  • Matchups are based on seeding (1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5).
  • Home court advantage goes to the higher seed - the higher seed plays 4 home games if the series goes to 7 games.
  • The winners of the East and West face off in the NBA Finals.

NBA Teams

There are 30 NBA teams currently registered to compete each season. The Celtics and Lakers are the most successful Basketball teams in the history of the league, both winning 17 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, there are some teams that have never won a Championship, such as the Phoenix Suns.

Team

Year Established

NBA Championships

Boston Celtics194617
Los Angeles Lakers1947 (as Minneapolis Lakers)17
Golden State Warriors1946 (as Philadelphia Warriors)7
Chicago Bulls19666
San Antonio Spurs19675
Miami Heat19883
Detroit Pistons1941 (joined NBA in 1948)3
Philadelphia 76ers1946 (Syracuse Nationals)3
Milwaukee Bucks19682
Houston Rockets19672
New York Knicks19462
Cleveland Cavaliers19701
Dallas Mavericks19801
Toronto Raptors19951
Washington Wizards1961 (Chicago Packers)1
Atlanta Hawks1946 (Buffalo Bisons)1
Portland Trail Blazers19701
Oklahoma City Thunder*1967 (Seattle SuperSonics)1
Sacramento Kings1923 (Rochester Seagrams)1
Phoenix Suns19680
Brooklyn Nets1967 (New Jersey Americans, joined NBA in 1976)0
Orlando Magic19890
Indiana Pacers1967 (joined NBA in 1976)0
Utah Jazz1974 (New Orleans Jazz) 0
Denver Nuggets 1967 (joined NBA in 1976) 1
Minnesota Timberwolves 19890
Charlotte Hornets 1988 (re-established in 2004) 0
Memphis Grizzlies 1995 (Vancouver Grizzlies) 0
New Orleans Pelicans 2002 (New Orleans Hornets) 0
Boston Celtics

Year Established

1946

NBA Championships

17
Los Angeles Lakers

Year Established

1947 (as Minneapolis Lakers)

NBA Championships

17
Golden State Warriors

Year Established

1946 (as Philadelphia Warriors)

NBA Championships

7
Chicago Bulls

Year Established

1966

NBA Championships

6
San Antonio Spurs

Year Established

1967

NBA Championships

5
Miami Heat

Year Established

1988

NBA Championships

3
Detroit Pistons

Year Established

1941 (joined NBA in 1948)

NBA Championships

3
Philadelphia 76ers

Year Established

1946 (Syracuse Nationals)

NBA Championships

3
Milwaukee Bucks

Year Established

1968

NBA Championships

2
Houston Rockets

Year Established

1967

NBA Championships

2
New York Knicks

Year Established

1946

NBA Championships

2
Cleveland Cavaliers

Year Established

1970

NBA Championships

1
Dallas Mavericks

Year Established

1980

NBA Championships

1
Toronto Raptors

Year Established

1995

NBA Championships

1
Washington Wizards

Year Established

1961 (Chicago Packers)

NBA Championships

1
Atlanta Hawks

Year Established

1946 (Buffalo Bisons)

NBA Championships

1
Portland Trail Blazers

Year Established

1970

NBA Championships

1
Oklahoma City Thunder*

Year Established

1967 (Seattle SuperSonics)

NBA Championships

1
Sacramento Kings

Year Established

1923 (Rochester Seagrams)

NBA Championships

1
Phoenix Suns

Year Established

1968

NBA Championships

0
Brooklyn Nets

Year Established

1967 (New Jersey Americans, joined NBA in 1976)

NBA Championships

0
Orlando Magic

Year Established

1989

NBA Championships

0
Indiana Pacers

Year Established

1967 (joined NBA in 1976)

NBA Championships

0
Utah Jazz

Year Established

1974 (New Orleans Jazz) 

NBA Championships

0
Denver Nuggets 

Year Established

1967 (joined NBA in 1976) 

NBA Championships

1
Minnesota Timberwolves 

Year Established

1989

NBA Championships

0
Charlotte Hornets 

Year Established

1988 (re-established in 2004) 

NBA Championships

0
Memphis Grizzlies 

Year Established

1995 (Vancouver Grizzlies) 

NBA Championships

0
New Orleans Pelicans 

Year Established

2002 (New Orleans Hornets) 

NBA Championships

0

Our NBA Tips

At AustralianBettingSites, we produce NBA Basketball tips using the best form trends, data and insider insight so we can bring you the best betting opportunities. We don’t just pick teams; our NBA tips for today will look at player matchups, injuries, the pace of the game and advanced stats to find angles the bookmakers may have overlooked.

We follow movements in betting lines and how the public is betting to find out if a side is favoured by the professionals or by the public, similar to Melbourne Cup betting. All our tips, for any sport such as AFL tips, are based on hours of research and adjusted for Australian betting fans.

What’s great is that all our best NBA tips are free and always will be, so you can get updated every day during the season..

NBA Betting Markets

What are the most popular NBA betting markets? Here is a quick overview of what types of NBA bets you can generally find at new betting sites and International giants like Bet365 or Unibet.

Bet Type

What it is

Example Bet

Why it’s popular

Head to HeadBet on which team will win the game.Los Angeles Clippers to beat the Los Angeles LakersIt’s the simplest form of NBA betting and is usually used to make massive multi bets.
Handicap / SpreadBookmakers set a handicap. You bet on whether a team will win by more than the line or not.Lakers -5.5 or Celtics +5.5Good for betting on underdogs or mis-matches.
Total Points (Over/Under)Bet on the total combined points scored by both teams.Over/Under 224.5 total points.Games with strong offences or when star players are in form.
Player PropsBet on individual player stats like: Points, Rebounds, Assists etcNikola Jokic to get 30+ pts, 10+ rebounds and 10+ assistsPerfect for fantasy-style fans and those who follow player form closely.
Same Game MultiCombine multiple legs in a single NBA game.Tatum 25+ points + Celtics to win + Over 215.5Especially popular with punters on Dabble and Betr for social and community betting.
First Basket ScorerBet on which player will score the first points of the match.Kevin Durant to sink the first basketLong odds but big payouts. Best used for fun to start off the game, like first goalscorer in AFL.
Winning MarginPredict the margin of victoryLakers by 1–10 or 11+Punters that are chasing value in tightly contested games or expected blowouts.
Quarter & Half MarketsBet on Quarter winner, Half-time/full-time double, Over/Under per quarter etcHawks to lead by 10 pts after the 1st quarterYou expect fast starts, or one team fades late.
Futures (Outrights)Bet on NBA Champion, Conference Winner, MVP, Rookie of the Year, DPOY, etc.Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA FinalsGreat value odds, especially if you bet on an underdog. Useful for cashout if you get it right
Live Betting (In-Play)Available via phone (due to Australian laws).Knicks down by 20, bet on them live to win.Momentum swings in the NBA are constant, good for sharp punters that like tracking form and runs.

Best NBA Betting Sites

What are the very best NBA betting sites out there in Australia? Here are a few sites that I love using and have been enjoying for many years.

Bet365

Bet365 has everything a basketball lover could want, thanks to its specialised NBA betting Australia options. With the desktop site or mobile app, you can watch and bet on games anytime, anywhere. You can place live bets on NBA games using the platform as the action is happening.

You can find higher NBA odds for underdogs at Bet365 and often receive NBA betting bonuses to help you grow your money. The Multi Builder and Same Game Multi options make it possible for you to choose custom bets from different categories, and player props offer chances to back individual NBA players’ points, rebounds and assists. This is highly recommended as one of the best betting sites for NBA and I love it.

A Global Sports Betting Giant Offering Top Odds and Unmatched Market Variety

PlayUp

With PlayUp, you can enjoy NBA betting, including both traditional and fantasy parts. You will find numerous NBA promos on the site all season, giving extra benefits to punters. You may also join daily fantasy games in the NBA and gain a new level of competition. Thanks to PlayUp, you can customise your bets by choosing player-related props and Same Game Multi options.

Betting at any time from your mobile device is simple, thanks to apps you can use on Apple or Android. You can bet while the match is taking place, thanks to in-play betting odds which make it possible to react to sudden events. Should be a good combo with free NBA betting tips.

A Well-Rounded Betting Site That Ticks Most Boxes

Dabble

Dabble

Dabble builds a unique way to bet on the NBA, matching players in an atmosphere that is meant for the mobile app experience. One great thing about the app is that you can easily mimic other people’s NBA tips and predictions, so you can bet with those who have had success in the community. You have the option to follow other fans, check who they are rooting for and interact with their betting content right away.

Using the app, you can observe real-time betting on NBA action to find out where others are placing their bets. Thanks to Same Game Multi options and Pick’em games, where you can choose if a player will go over or under certain stats like points, rebounds and assists, Dabble brings basketball betting to life in the community and is one of the most unique betting sites you can use in Aus.

A Social Betting Site with A Host of Unique Features

NBA Betting Odds Comparison

Here, I’ve done a quick NBA betting sites odds comparison between the Knicks and Pacers Game 5 matchup in the 2024/25 season. As you can see, Bet365 and Bet Right are your best choices for betting on underdogs with the highest odds. Unibet comes out on top with the best favourite odds, but it’s pretty close across the board.

Bookmaker

New York Knicks Win

Indiana Pacers Win

Unibet1.562.45
Bet3651.522.60
PlayUp1.552.50
Bet Right1.502.65
Chasebet1.522.55
Palmerbet1.522.53
Elitebet1.532.50
Dabble1.552.50
Boombet1.522.52

NBA Betting Strategies

Here are 10 top NBA betting strategies that punters in Australia can use to give themselves an edge and potentially make money from NBA betting:

  1. Bet the NBA Schedule: Daily NBA tips should always follow the schedule. Teams usually play worse when they are on a back-to-back or conclude a road trip. Bet against teams on the second night of back-to-back games, for example, especially if their opponent isn’t dealing with tiredness.
  2. Target Key Injuries & Resting Stars: Stars are what drive the NBA. One person leaving the team can make a big difference, such as LeBron James is out. The best NBA tips will follow updates on potential injuries by checking what the teams and staff post before markets change. Place your bet early if you are aware of some information.
  3. Live Betting Momentum Swings: You can find many runs in NBA games. Many times, teams improve after they are down in the game. If a favourite gets off to a slow start but is still doing well by the numbers, place a live bet at the increased chances of victory.
  4. Bet Unders in the Playoffs: Go for Unders with high totals near the playoffs. Scoring usually drops as defences improve and top teams meet each other down the stretch. If you see highly anticipated games in the playoff race, look for the under.
  5. Fade the Public in Big Games: A lot of punters load up on the top teams like the Lakers, Celtics and Warriors, but their bets tend to lose. If most money is on one side, selecting the other option may have more value. You can also apply this to NRL tips, such as the Broncos or Roosters or Collingwood in the AFL.
  6. Use Advanced Stats to Find Edges: Pace, offensive efficiency and true shooting percentage usually are better indicators of results than a player’s appearance or reputation. You should use sites such as Basketball Reference or NBA Advanced Stats to get information before you start betting. It’s kind of like using a form guide to generate Horse Racing tips.
  7. Specialise in Player Props: Because props are broad areas, bookmakers can’t always price them well. Check the scores of two or three players or teams and watch their point, rebound, assist and 3-pointer frequencies.
  8. Bet Early Before Lines Move: Early lines before the moves bring sharps and news, often giving you the most value. Use more books to track the odds and start with your bets early when you expect the lines to change.
  9. Hedge Your Futures in the Playoffs: Making a futures bet early gives you a shot at a big win. If your team goes all the way, make sure to place a hedge bet on the other team so you still win money - this is a key NBA tips strategy in my experience.
  10. Track Your Bets & Bankroll: Your long-term success is based on staying disciplined. Use a bet size that is 1–5% of your budget, don’t gamble to recover losses and maintain a log of your play. Most sites also offer deposit limits now, so you can control yourself.

NBA Betting FAQ’s

Create an account in a few minutes with a licensed Aussie bookmaker like Bet365, PlayUp or Dabble, deposit funds, and place bets on NBA games or markets that you like the look of.

Absolutely, there are plenty of NBA betting sites that give you free tips during the season and playoffs.

Sure, the majority of NBA tips also give you player props predictions, same game multis to bet on and more.

Sure is! NBA betting is above board in Australia and can be done through licensed online sportsbooks.

This is up for debate, as there are a lot of NBA betting sites to choose from and it depends on personal preference, so I wouldn’t say there is one that stands out from the rest.

There are a massive range of markets to bet on. These generally include the basics of head-to-head - also used in Tennis betting, line, totals, player props, same game multis, futures, and live betting odds.