Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA

Best Basketball Betting Picks 2025: Expertly Curated!

Top Basketball Betting Predictions by Experts

The NBA is one of the most popular sports leagues to bet on in the USA, as well as college Basketball too. If you’re a fan of either, or both, this page is here to give you some great Basketball betting picks.

We will help by breaking down some of the basics of using Basketball and college Basketball betting picks optimally. We’ll give you details of bet types, odds and the best markets to bet on. We have even found some cool deposit bonus offers too! All will be revealed below.

 

Best US Sportsbook
Best US Sportsbook Get your Free Bet now!
Mark Lewis
NBA
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday7:30pm
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Tip:
Spread: Spread away Odds home -2.000
-110
Bet365
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday10pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
Saturday7pm
Madison Square Garden
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday3:30pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday8pm
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
Monday7pm
Madison Square Garden
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers Indiana Pacers
Cleveland Cavaliers Indiana Pacers
Tuesday7pm
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder Denver Nuggets
Oklahoma City Thunder Denver Nuggets
Tuesday7pm
Paycom Center
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Boston Celtics New York Knicks
Boston Celtics New York Knicks
Wednesday7pm
TD Garden
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers
May 15th7pm
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
New York Knicks Boston Celtics
May 16th7pm
Madison Square Garden
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Thunder
May 16th7pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder Denver Nuggets
Oklahoma City Thunder Denver Nuggets
May 17th7pm
Paycom Center
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers Indiana Pacers
Cleveland Cavaliers Indiana Pacers
May 18th7pm
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Rigas Futbola Skola BFC Daugavpils
Friday12pm
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
Grobinas SC/LFS FK Liepaja
Saturday9am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
Riga FC FS Jelgava
Saturday11am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Tukums 2000/TSS FK Metta / Lu
Sunday7am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
BFC Daugavpils Riga FC
Wednesday10:30am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Liepaja FK Rigas Futbola Skola
Wednesday11am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FS Jelgava FK Auda Riga
Thursday11am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Metta / Lu Grobinas SC/LFS
Thursday11:30am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
Riga FC FK Liepaja
May 19th12pm
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Auda Riga BFC Daugavpils
May 20th11am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
FK Rigas Futbola Skola FK Metta / Lu
May 20th1pm
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now
Mark Lewis
BBL
Grobinas SC/LFS FK Tukums 2000/TSS
May 21st11am
Tip:
Odds are being evaluated
Bet Now

Basketball Picks- All you need to know – a brief introduction

  • Points structure

One thing to consider when looking at your daily Basketball betting picks is that Basketball is a game that is won on points. Now, the average points scored in a NBA Basketball game is probably between 80 and 115 points per team.

The game lasts a duration of 48 minutes, which consists of four quarters. When looking at College Basketball betting picks you might want to consider their games are slightly shorter, lasting 40 minutes.

  • Betting markets to suit the occasion

There are many betting markets and opportunities to apply to sure Basketball betting picks, such as quarters betting and halves betting, explained on this page.

Basketball is quite complex compared to other games such as soccer. Due to the points structure, this can present many added options for betting and makes college Basketball betting picks a lot more exciting to look into!

A brief guide to Basketball betting picks – forming a strategy

Do you have a successful basketball betting strategy? When forming a strategy for both college Basketball betting picks and NBA, you may wish to consider researching the behaviors of your team. Are they fast or slow starters? Pending either/or of these may help sway your final decision with a solid Basketball betting picks approach.

Check the markets to apply to specific teams

Are you betting on a game where there are two ‘fast-starting’ teams? If so, it may be worth checking the odds for the first quarter over/under betting. If the odds are good this could be an addition to your college Basketball betting picks strategy.

Why trust our betting picks? – Key things we look for

Here at TheGruelingTruth we have the best betting picks for sports and we have regular articles about the latest in NBA and college Basketball betting picks. We like to keep our readers up-to-date with the latest news, so as you know who’s hot and who is not!

Our research often looks into injuries of players within the teams and also other forms of research, such as precious data from the two opposing sides. We use this approach when giving out our college Basketball betting picks and NBA picks.

Our key to success: The tools we use to analyze the daily betting market – Signals and signs we look for

  • Research and injuries

Carefully check for player injuries within the teams we are considering. Are the basketball betting odds bigger than expected? If so, this can usually be an alert indicating a key player may not be playing.

  • Key scoring player absent?

This should affect the selection process for NBA and college Basketball betting picks. The basketball tipsters do a sterling job of keeping-up-to-date with this vital news.

  • Two teams known for being low scorers

If either scenario happens then it would be worth checking the over/under odds for total scores on the best basketball betting apps or website you use.

Our top rated online betting sites

DraftKings
1.
4.6/5
Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
USA
USA Players Welcome
PayPal
VIP Preferred
Play+
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
FanDuel
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Prepaid Card
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
BetMGM
3.
4.5/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
USA
USA Players Welcome
PayNearMe
Skrill
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Bet365
4.
4.5/5
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
5.
4.5/5
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets
USA
USA Players Welcome
E-Check
PayNearMe
PayPal
Virginia (US) Lottery Board
Bet now
T&Cs and 21+ apply

Things you should think about before placing a Basketball bet – Different bet types for different games 

Spread Betting 

Spread betting is an interesting one when you have an odds-on favorite against an underdog. To make things fair, bookmakers will offer a handicap. For example, the superior team will start at -3.5 points, and the underdog at +3.5 points, to make things fair.

Totals Betting

Bookmakers will set a number for the combined points scored by both teams. Then bettors will simply choose whether they think the score will rise over or fall under that number.

Quarters and halves

Player Prop betting – over or under for a specific player. If there is a player you know performs well, scoring high, it may be worth checking this market and see if the odds are good.

Our Top 5 tips for finding your favorite bookie for Basketball – our checklist

We provide a betting operator recommendation for all of our picks, but for any other betting you might want to use for your Basketball betting picks, here’s a few things to consider when making your selection.

Usability

Does the website or app work well? Does it look good and have an intuitive interface to easily navigate around the sports and betting markets that you like to bet on?

Bonuses offered

Does the bookmaker you’re looking at offer a  tempting bonus? The competition is fierce at the moment and there are some huge bonuses to enjoy on this page from our selected bookmakers.

Market Depth

Does the sportsbook offer the markets you like to bet on? If you enjoy spread betting, or over/unders betting, check they are included before signing-up!

Good odds

Probably one of the most important components of a sportsbook. An outstanding welcome offer can be less valuable if the odds offered are poor.

Payment methods

Does your bookmaker of choice offer the deposit method you like to use? Best to check this beforehand.

Useful Basketball betting pick vocabulary – the betting jargon

  • Moneyline bet

This is the most common form of bet as well as the easiest one to understand. If you think the Celtics will beat the Lakers, then opt for a moneyline bet.

  • Spread bet

Sometimes the moneyline odds are too short for your liking. A way to increase the odds on a bet is to take a handicap on the team you think will win. As an example, a bookmaker will typically give a -3.5 point disadvantage to the favorite team, to level the odds.

  • Totals bet

Includes over or under. Let’s say you visited the best Basketball betting tips site and it suggested betting in the following game that had a Totals bet offered, set at 230. The Basketball betting picks site said the game would score high, so you opted to bet on the over 230 totals spread.  If the Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards 119-118, that would be a winning bet!

  • Individual quarters or halves  bets

Is your team known to be a slow starting team? If so, this bet may appeal to you here.

  • Player Prop betting

Backing an individual player to score higher or low than 30 points, for example.

  • Futures bets

Useful if you feel your team will become the champions for the season!

Conclusion – final thoughts 

When looking for the best NBA or College basketball site for your basketball betting picks we recommend checking the markets you want are included. The best betting offers last year provided some good all-round sportsbooks last year.

There’s some great welcome bonuses on offer at the moment for Basketball betting and we recommend checking our selection for the best basketball betting sites on this page. Have a think about the markets you like to bet on and always check your chosen bookmaker offers these. Once signed-up, apply the tips and tricks we mentioned in this page.

The best basketball bonuses

DraftKings
1.
4.6/5
Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Min. Deposit: 5
Open DraftKings
Get bonus now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
FanDuel
2.
4.6/5
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Wagering (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: $5
Open FanDuel
Get bonus now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
BetMGM
3.
4.5/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
USA
USA Players Welcome
Min. Deposit: $5
Open BetMGM
Get bonus now
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Bet365
4.
4.5/5
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Wagering (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
Open Bet365
Get bonus now
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
5.
4.5/5
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets
USA
USA Players Welcome
Wagering (WR): 1x Deposit
Copy
Get bonus now
T&Cs and 21+ apply

Basketball betting picks FAQ

❓ Can I spread bet on the NBA?

The most common bet struck on basketball betting sites is the moneyline bet, but if you want to add some spice to your bets then why not look into other markets, such as spreads? Our article at TheGruelingTruth.com provides all the information you need to know, to customize NBA betting to your needs. 

🏀 What’s the best sportsbook for Basketball betting?

Rather than manually searching yourself, you could use the selected bookmakers we have carefully chosen on our basketball betting picks page at TheGruelingTruth.com. You see, when choosing a sportsbook to use for your college Basketball betting picks, or NBA picks, there’s many things you need to consider beforehand. See our guide for the full lowdown!

💰 How do I bet on the NBA?

First question is, what are your favorite teams to bet on and are they high or low scoring teams? Once you’ve drilled down on the facts, you can then devise a plan or strategy for your NBA betting. Our guide at TheGruelingTruth.com explains how to develop your own personal approach to basketball betting.  

NCAA Basketball Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/06/24
NCAA Basketball Drake Bulldogs vs Indiana State Sycamores: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/03/24
NCAA Basketball Houston Cougars vs Kansas Jayhawks: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/03/24
NCAA Basketball Penn State Nittany Lions vs Indiana Hoosiers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/03/24
NCAA Basketball Wisconsin Badgers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/01/24
NCAA Basketball Indiana State Sycamores vs Belmont Bruins: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/31/24
NCAA Basketball Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/31/24
NCAA Basketball Iowa Hawkeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/30/24
NCAA Basketball Indiana Hoosiers vs Illinois Fighting Illini: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/27/24
NBA Philadelphia 76ers vs Indiana Pacers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/25/24
NCAA Basketball Indiana Hoosiers vs Wisconsin Badgers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/19/24
NCAA Basketball Purdue Boilermakers vs Indiana Hoosiers: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/16/24.
Betting Tips
02/06/2024 - 8:00 pm
Ohio State
Tip:
Ohio State to Cover
-5.50
FanDuel
02/03/2024 - 6:30 pm
Carmichael
Tip:
North Carolina to Cover
-4.00
FanDuel
02/03/2024 - 6:00 pm
Hulman Center
Tip:
Indiana State to Cover
-5.50
FanDuel
Latest News
Weekend snoozefest – Garcia, Haney, and Canelo induce sleep, Lopez reta...
"The fans want to see good fights. Let's go." ...
Mike Rossman: The Jewish Bomber’s Journey To Boxing Glory
Mike Rossman, known in the ring as "The ...
Mel Daniels: The ABA’s Towering Force and Unsung Basketball Legend
Mel Daniels may not be a household name ...
The 1976 New England Patriots: The Birth of a Contender
In the landscape of NFL history, the 1976 ...
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Real Prize
Real Prize
Real Prize Review
4.8/5
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
McLuck
4.5/5
Jackpota
Jackpota
Jackpota Review
4.4/5
CrownCoinsCasino
CrownCoinsCasino
CrownCoinsCasino Review
4.3/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.2/5
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza Review
4.2/5
MyPrize US
MyPrize US
MyPrize US Review
4.2/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.1/5
Spree
4.1/5
Real Prize
Real Prize Promo
625K Golden Coins + Up to 125 SC FREE + 1250 VIP Points
T&Cs apply
4.8/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Promo
56 Stake Cash + 560K Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
McLuck
McLuck Promo
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Jackpota
Jackpota Promo
27.5 SC FREE and 57.5K Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.4/5
CrownCoinsCasino
CrownCoinsCasino Promo
Get 200% More Coins on First Purchase - 1.5M CC + 75 SC
T&Cs apply
4.3/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Promo
245% Extra up to 60 SC FREE + 700 Gold Coins and 400 Diamonds!
T&Cs apply
4.2/5
MegaBonanza
MegaBonanza Promo
150% Purchase Offer: 25 SC FREE and 50K GC
T&Cs apply
4.2/5
MyPrize US
MyPrize US Promo
1 Sweeps Cash FREE and 1K Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.2/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Promo
35 SC FREE and 1.75M WOW Coins
T&Cs apply
4.1/5
Spree
Spree Promo
200% Extra Coins: 30 SC FREE + 30K Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.1/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterJosh SchwartzSimon BriffaMark LewisSamuel Teets
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Author Icon
drjaygee
Editor
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open FanDuel
Get Bonus
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now