If you’re the type who hits the sack early, NBA first-quarter and first-half betting will suit your lifestyle and quench your thirst for NBA betting action. With an increase in popularity for NBA betting, these two bet types are becoming incredibly common, and information to help handicap teams in these spots is available across the internet.
How These Tables Work
For the ATS tables, you’ll see each team’s overall record, home/away records and record in their last 10 games so you can see who’s hot and who’s not. In brackets next to the record is each team’s point differential. We use the same criteria for the OVER/UNDER tables, but in brackets next to the record is the average combined score.
Many factors should be considered when placing a bet. This data, along with our basketball betting news, is a great starting spot for handicapping NBA games. Good luck!
*Tables updated as of January 02, 2024
1st Quarter ATS Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home | Away | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | 21-10 (3.13) | 12-6 (3.89) | 9-4 (2.08) | 8-2 (4.9) |
| Nuggets | 23-12 (3.54) | 13-4 (5.18) | 10-8 (2.0) | 7-3 (3.5) |
| Celtics | 21-11 (5.34) | 10-6 (4.75) | 11-5 (5.94) | 7-3 (5.4) |
| Heat | 21-11-1 (2.45) | 8-7 (1.47) | 13-4-1 (3.28) | 6-3-1 (3.0) |
| Spurs | 20-12 (0.0) | 11-5 (2.44) | 9-7 (-2.44) | 5-5 (-0.8) |
| Knicks | 19-13-1 (1.67) | 5-8 (0.85) | 14-5-1 (2.2) | 5-4-1 (-0.5) |
| Wizards | 19-13 (-1.97) | 7-7 (-3.79) | 12-6 (-0.56) | 8-2 (0.9) |
| Suns | 18-14-1 (0.94) | 9-10 (-0.32) | 9-4-1 (2.64) | 4-6 (-0.3) |
| Clippers | 17-14-1 (1.25) | 8-9-1 (-0.67) | 9-5 (3.71) | 4-5-1 (0.5) |
| Nets | 18-15 (0.48) | 13-4 (2.0) | 5-11 (-1.12) | 4-6 (-1.9) |
| Magic | 17-15 (-0.22) | 9-7 (0.88) | 8-8 (-1.31) | 3-7 (-1.5) |
| Mavericks | 17-17 (0.12) | 9-6 (1.93) | 8-11 (-1.32) | 4-6 (-0.9) |
| Pelicans | 16-16-1 (2.06) | 9-9 (3.22) | 7-7-1 (0.67) | 3-7 (2.0) |
| Kings | 15-15-1 (0.87) | 9-6-1 (2.5) | 6-9 (-0.87) | 4-6 (-0.8) |
| Cavaliers | 16-17 (-0.06) | 8-9 (1.94) | 8-8 (-2.19) | 5-5 (0.1) |
| Jazz | 16-17-1 (-2.15) | 8-6-1 (1.33) | 8-11 (-4.89) | 5-4-1 (-1.1) |
| Rockets | 14-15-2 (0.32) | 9-8-1 (2.78) | 5-7-1 (-3.08) | 4-6 (-1.9) |
| Hawks | 15-17 (-0.41) | 7-6 (0.85) | 8-11 (-1.26) | 6-4 (2.4) |
| Warriors | 14-16-2 (0.59) | 5-11-1 (-1.12) | 9-5-1 (2.53) | 3-7 (-1.2) |
| Timberwolves | 14-17-1 (0.47) | 7-8 (2.0) | 7-9-1 (-0.88) | 4-6 (0.9) |
| Pacers | 14-17-2 (-0.76) | 8-7-1 (2.06) | 6-10-1 (-3.41) | 6-4 (-1.1) |
| Hornets | 14-17 (-2.58) | 6-9 (-3.07) | 8-8 (-2.12) | 7-3 (-1.6) |
| Pistons | 14-18-1 (-3.36) | 7-8-1 (-1.12) | 7-10 (-5.47) | 5-5 (-5.8) |
| Bucks | 14-18-1 (1.24) | 10-8-1 (3.95) | 4-10 (-2.43) | 6-4 (4.8) |
| Raptors | 13-20 (-1.21) | 9-9 (0.61) | 4-11 (-3.4) | 4-6 (-2.0) |
| Grizzlies | 12-19-1 (-1.53) | 5-8-1 (0.14) | 7-11 (-2.83) | 4-6 (-0.3) |
| Bulls | 13-21 (-2.18) | 9-11 (-0.8) | 4-10 (-4.14) | 5-5 (1.3) |
| 76ers | 12-20 (-0.25) | 8-8 (2.69) | 4-12 (-3.19) | 4-6 (1.4) |
| Trail Blazers | 11-19-2 (-4.03) | 5-11 (-5.19) | 6-8-2 (-2.88) | 4-6 (-4.3) |
| Lakers | 11-23-1 (-3.57) | 5-10-1 (-1.69) | 6-13 (-5.16) | 2-8 (-5.7) |
The Los Angeles Lakers' notoriously slow starts are hurting themselves in the standings and bettors in their bank accounts. They average 28 points per the first 12 minutes of games (21st) while allowing a league-worst 31.8 points to the opposition. Until those numbers improve, bet against the spread for the first quarter at your own peril.
1st Quarter OVER/UNDER Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home | Away | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacers | 22-11 (62.88) | 10-6 (61.81) | 12-5 (63.88) | 5-5 (61.5) |
| Lakers | 21-14 (59.86) | 8-8 (56.69) | 13-6 (62.53) | 8-2 (63.3) |
| Cavaliers | 19-14 (59.58) | 12-5 (61.24) | 7-9 (57.81) | 8-2 (64.1) |
| Pelicans | 18-15 (57.45) | 12-6 (59.0) | 6-9 (55.6) | 4-6 (56.4) |
| Grizzlies | 17-15 (55.47) | 6-8 (55.86) | 11-7 (55.17) | 5-5 (53.9) |
| Hawks | 16-15-1 (62.53) | 8-5 (63.92) | 8-10-1 (61.58) | 4-6 (60.2) |
| Bucks | 17-16 (59.73) | 9-10 (61.0) | 8-6 (58.0) | 8-2 (63.6) |
| Raptors | 17-16 (56.0) | 10-8 (56.83) | 7-8 (55.0) | 4-6 (58.2) |
| Bulls | 17-17 (54.12) | 9-11 (54.2) | 8-6 (54.0) | 5-5 (54.7) |
| Nets | 16-16-1 (56.79) | 8-9 (54.47) | 8-7-1 (59.25) | 2-7-1 (56.3) |
| Jazz | 16-17-1 (59.44) | 6-9 (58.93) | 10-8-1 (59.84) | 5-4-1 (62.9) |
| Timberwolves | 15-16-1 (56.66) | 7-7-1 (55.07) | 8-9 (58.06) | 4-6 (57.5) |
| Pistons | 15-16-2 (56.88) | 9-5-2 (58.5) | 6-11 (55.35) | 5-4-1 (58.0) |
| Thunder | 14-17 (59.19) | 10-8 (59.89) | 4-9 (58.23) | 7-3 (63.7) |
| 76ers | 14-17-1 (56.31) | 8-8 (56.81) | 6-9-1 (55.81) | 3-7 (52.4) |
| Kings | 13-16-2 (60.03) | 7-8-1 (60.12) | 6-8-1 (59.93) | 4-5-1 (61.0) |
| Mavericks | 15-19 (59.76) | 6-9 (59.13) | 9-10 (60.26) | 4-6 (60.1) |
| Knicks | 14-18-1 (55.67) | 4-8-1 (53.31) | 10-10 (57.2) | 6-4 (60.1) |
| Heat | 14-19 (55.73) | 8-7 (56.93) | 6-12 (54.72) | 2-8 (53.4) |
| Magic | 13-18-1 (55.66) | 5-10-1 (55.75) | 8-8 (55.56) | 3-7 (56.7) |
| Warriors | 13-18-1 (56.59) | 7-9-1 (57.71) | 6-9 (55.33) | 2-8 (55.2) |
| Spurs | 13-18-1 (56.5) | 6-10 (55.94) | 7-8-1 (57.06) | 4-5-1 (59.2) |
| Trail Blazers | 13-18-1 (57.16) | 6-9-1 (58.31) | 7-9 (56.0) | 3-6-1 (58.3) |
| Clippers | 13-19 (54.88) | 5-13 (53.89) | 8-6 (56.14) | 5-5 (59.5) |
| Wizards | 12-18-2 (57.84) | 5-8-1 (58.21) | 7-10-1 (57.56) | 2-8 (57.3) |
| Suns | 12-20-1 (57.18) | 9-10 (57.16) | 3-10-1 (57.21) | 4-6 (57.5) |
| Rockets | 11-20 (53.81) | 7-11 (54.0) | 4-9 (53.54) | 6-4 (56.7) |
| Celtics | 11-21 (57.53) | 5-11 (58.38) | 6-10 (56.69) | 2-8 (58.6) |
| Nuggets | 10-24-1 (54.91) | 5-12 (54.82) | 5-12-1 (55.0) | 2-8 (53.1) |
| Hornets | 9-22 (54.13) | 3-12 (53.47) | 6-10 (54.75) | 2-8 (51.4) |
The Denver Nuggets own the league's seventh-ranked offense, scoring 117.8 points per 100 possessions. You'd think a potent offense like would help hit the OVER more often than not, especially considering they average 29.2 points per opening quarter. Well, their defense seems to be the problem here, but at least in a positive way for everyone but bettors. Denver allows just 25.7 points in the first 12 minutes, which ranks first overall.
1st Half ATS Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home | Away | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelicans | 24-8-1 (6.58) | 14-3-1 (9.94) | 10-5 (2.53) | 9-0-1 (10.6) |
| Celtics | 23-8-1 (7.97) | 11-4-1 (8.19) | 12-4 (7.75) | 8-2 (7.2) |
| Heat | 22-9-2 (3.94) | 10-5 (4.47) | 12-4-2 (3.5) | 7-3 (5.9) |
| Thunder | 21-10 (4.23) | 13-5 (4.67) | 8-5 (3.62) | 7-3 (3.8) |
| Magic | 19-13 (3.0) | 9-7 (3.62) | 10-6 (2.38) | 3-7 (-3.5) |
| Suns | 19-14 (3.55) | 11-8 (3.68) | 8-6 (3.36) | 6-4 (2.1) |
| 76ers | 18-14 (2.72) | 11-5 (5.69) | 7-9 (-0.25) | 5-5 (4.4) |
| Nuggets | 19-16 (2.29) | 10-7 (5.65) | 9-9 (-0.89) | 4-6 (4.3) |
| Rockets | 16-14-1 (0.39) | 11-7 (4.5) | 5-7-1 (-5.31) | 4-5-1 (-2.8) |
| Clippers | 17-15 (3.0) | 8-10 (3.39) | 9-5 (2.5) | 6-4 (5.7) |
| Wizards | 17-15 (-2.84) | 7-7 (-5.0) | 10-8 (-1.17) | 6-4 (-0.7) |
| Hawks | 17-15 (1.75) | 7-6 (2.15) | 10-9 (1.47) | 8-2 (5.9) |
| Bucks | 17-16 (1.52) | 14-5 (4.32) | 3-11 (-2.29) | 7-3 (6.2) |
| Cavaliers | 17-16 (-0.12) | 8-9 (1.24) | 9-7 (-1.56) | 5-5 (-1.7) |
| Warriors | 16-16 (1.34) | 6-11 (0.18) | 10-5 (2.67) | 5-5 (1.7) |
| Mavericks | 17-17 (0.94) | 7-8 (1.27) | 10-9 (0.68) | 6-4 (0.2) |
| Knicks | 16-17 (0.09) | 6-7 (3.0) | 10-10 (-1.8) | 5-5 (-1.5) |
| Nets | 16-17 (-0.67) | 9-8 (1.53) | 7-9 (-3.0) | 5-5 (-2.6) |
| Kings | 15-16 (-1.61) | 9-7 (0.94) | 6-9 (-4.33) | 5-5 (-1.6) |
| Spurs | 15-17 (-3.06) | 9-7 (0.44) | 6-10 (-6.56) | 2-8 (-5.6) |
| Pacers | 15-18 (-1.03) | 7-9 (-0.56) | 8-9 (-1.47) | 3-7 (-2.8) |
| Jazz | 14-20 (-4.0) | 9-6 (1.33) | 5-14 (-8.21) | 5-5 (-1.4) |
| Bulls | 14-20 (-3.88) | 9-11 (-2.6) | 5-9 (-5.71) | 6-4 (0.7) |
| Raptors | 13-19-1 (-2.15) | 8-9-1 (0.56) | 5-10 (-5.4) | 4-6 (-2.6) |
| Trail Blazers | 13-19 (-5.53) | 4-12 (-7.31) | 9-7 (-3.75) | 2-8 (-7.8) |
| Timberwolves | 12-20 (1.31) | 6-9 (3.8) | 6-11 (-0.88) | 2-8 (-0.8) |
| Lakers | 13-22 (-1.66) | 7-9 (2.12) | 6-13 (-4.84) | 4-6 (-1.2) |
| Hornets | 11-20 (-5.16) | 4-11 (-7.47) | 7-9 (-3.0) | 5-5 (-6.8) |
| Pistons | 11-22 (-5.73) | 6-10 (-2.19) | 5-12 (-9.06) | 3-7 (-6.9) |
| Grizzlies | 9-23 (-7.03) | 4-10 (-5.57) | 5-13 (-8.17) | 2-8 (-8.5) |
The 24-8 Minnesota Timberwolves sit first in the Western Conference, but rank near the bottom as it pertains to going against the spread in the first half of games. Their 12-20 record is fifth from the bottom in the Association, and they've beaten the spread just twice in their last 10 outings.
1st Half OVER/UNDER Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home | Away | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | 22-11 (114.24) | 11-6 (112.65) | 11-5 (115.94) | 9-1 (118.5) |
| Pacers | 21-11-1 (125.27) | 11-4-1 (125.69) | 10-7 (124.88) | 4-6 (124.6) |
| Mavericks | 20-12-2 (120.0) | 10-4-1 (120.33) | 10-8-1 (119.74) | 6-4 (121.2) |
| Nets | 20-13 (114.97) | 10-7 (115.65) | 10-6 (114.25) | 5-5 (114.0) |
| Magic | 18-12-2 (113.5) | 10-6 (113.5) | 8-6-2 (113.5) | 4-6 (114.1) |
| Bucks | 19-13-1 (120.67) | 10-8-1 (122.32) | 9-5 (118.43) | 5-5 (123.0) |
| Lakers | 20-14-1 (117.77) | 6-9-1 (112.88) | 14-5 (121.89) | 7-3 (120.6) |
| Clippers | 18-14 (113.38) | 10-8 (112.72) | 8-6 (114.21) | 8-2 (122.9) |
| Thunder | 17-14 (115.19) | 13-5 (118.0) | 4-9 (111.31) | 7-3 (118.6) |
| Trail Blazers | 17-14-1 (114.16) | 10-5-1 (117.44) | 7-9 (110.88) | 6-4 (116.8) |
| 76ers | 17-14-1 (116.34) | 11-5 (116.94) | 6-9-1 (115.75) | 4-5-1 (112.4) |
| Raptors | 18-15 (111.3) | 10-8 (113.44) | 8-7 (108.73) | 5-5 (114.0) |
| Celtics | 17-15 (117.72) | 11-5 (119.31) | 6-10 (116.12) | 5-5 (119.8) |
| Hawks | 16-15-1 (122.88) | 5-8 (123.54) | 11-7-1 (122.42) | 3-6-1 (120.5) |
| Jazz | 17-17 (115.82) | 6-9 (116.0) | 11-8 (115.68) | 5-5 (117.2) |
| Spurs | 16-16 (116.0) | 8-8 (115.31) | 8-8 (116.69) | 5-5 (119.8) |
| Heat | 16-16-1 (113.09) | 9-5-1 (115.53) | 7-11 (111.06) | 5-4-1 (113.7) |
| Timberwolves | 15-16-1 (114.19) | 6-9 (111.67) | 9-7-1 (116.41) | 6-3-1 (117.4) |
| Kings | 15-16 (119.61) | 8-8 (117.69) | 7-8 (121.67) | 3-7 (120.8) |
| Wizards | 15-16-1 (118.34) | 7-7 (122.29) | 8-9-1 (115.28) | 4-6 (120.1) |
| Warriors | 15-17 (113.97) | 7-10 (114.29) | 8-7 (113.6) | 5-5 (115.9) |
| Pelicans | 15-17-1 (113.18) | 7-10-1 (113.72) | 8-7 (112.53) | 3-7 (110.0) |
| Nuggets | 16-19 (113.54) | 7-10 (112.12) | 9-9 (114.89) | 2-8 (108.5) |
| Knicks | 15-18 (113.97) | 5-8 (108.38) | 10-10 (117.6) | 3-7 (119.3) |
| Grizzlies | 14-17-1 (110.59) | 6-8 (113.43) | 8-9-1 (108.39) | 4-6 (109.1) |
| Bulls | 15-19 (106.76) | 8-12 (104.5) | 7-7 (110.0) | 4-6 (109.1) |
| Pistons | 14-19 (111.48) | 6-10 (111.06) | 8-9 (111.88) | 6-4 (115.7) |
| Suns | 13-20 (115.42) | 9-10 (116.32) | 4-10 (114.21) | 5-5 (118.3) |
| Hornets | 11-19-1 (111.55) | 3-11-1 (110.8) | 8-8 (112.25) | 3-6-1 (109.6) |
| Rockets | 10-21 (109.42) | 6-12 (110.28) | 4-9 (108.23) | 7-3 (118.0) |
The Indiana Pacers are an OVER/UNDER bettor's dream, allowing 63.1 points to opponents in the first half (30th) while averaging 62.2 points of their own (3rd). If you're betting OVER/UNDER and the Pacers are somehow involved, feel confident in betting the OVER more often than not. They're as sure a bet as any in that field.
How NBA 1st Quarter & 1st Half Betting Works
There’s not much to it, really. Instead of placing a bet on the spread or total for a full game, you’re doing so for either the first quarter or first half. Obviously, the numbers will be lower with first-half spreads and totals being close to half of the full-game numbers, while first-quarter spreads and totals are – you guessed it – close to a quarter of the full-game numbers.
Why Make Quarter & Half Bets Instead of Full-Game?
Just like in full-game betting, certain teams excel in these spots and different trends develop that are worth tailing if you catch them at the right time. The Memphis Grizzlies, for example, were a big money-maker during the 2021-22 season, covering the first-half spread more than any other team.
Which NBA team had the best first-quarter ATS record?
The Milwaukee Bucks had the best first-quarter ATS record in 2021-22 (55-38-1).
Which NBA team covered the spread the most in the first half?
The Memphis Grizzlies covered the first-half spread (60-33-1) more than any other NBA team in 2021-22.
