Odds Shark's NBA first quarter and first half betting report offers up-to-date numbers on how the Association's 30 teams and elite-level players perform in the opening 12 and 24 minutes of games.
Here's a look at all first quarter and first half numbers in the spread and total markets from the 2024-25 regular season.
1st Quarter ATS Records For 2024-25 NBA Season
| Team | Overall Record Spead | Home Spread | Away Spread | Last 10 Spread | Overall Record Total | Home Total | Away Total | Last 10 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 42-22-1 (-0.35) | 18-13 (-0.58) | 24-9-1 (-0.15) | 5-5 (-0.7) | 27-38 (55.03) | 12-19 (52.71) | 15-19 (57.15) | 4-6 (56.7) |
| Utah | 40-25-1 (-0.85) | 20-12 (-0.53) | 20-13-1 (-1.15) | 6-4 (-2.2) | 31-35 (56.97) | 13-19 (58.53) | 18-16 (55.5) | 4-6 (58.2) |
| Houston | 40-25-1 (2.17) | 17-16 (1.85) | 23-9-1 (2.48) | 7-3 (3.2) | 31-34-1 (55.62) | 15-18 (56.09) | 16-16-1 (55.15) | 6-4 (56.6) |
| LA Lakers | 38-25 (2.63) | 19-13 (3.66) | 19-12 (1.58) | 9-1 (7.8) | 34-29 (57.65) | 17-15 (57.84) | 17-14 (57.45) | 4-6 (54.8) |
| Memphis | 38-26-2 (1.89) | 19-14-1 (2.12) | 19-12-1 (1.66) | 4-6 (-0.9) | 34-32 (60.53) | 22-12 (62.12) | 12-20 (58.84) | 3-7 (58.5) |
| Oklahoma City | 36-28-3 (4.33) | 16-19 (3.51) | 20-9-3 (5.22) | 3-7 (1.9) | 38-28-1 (57.43) | 22-13 (57.34) | 16-15-1 (57.53) | 6-3-1 (62.9) |
| Detroit | 37-29 (1.58) | 14-18 (0.34) | 23-11 (2.74) | 7-3 (5.0) | 38-28 (58.15) | 18-14 (58.03) | 20-14 (58.26) | 4-6 (55.6) |
| Toronto | 36-29-1 (-2.05) | 18-18 (-2.39) | 18-11-1 (-1.63) | 7-3 (1.5) | 32-32-2 (55.74) | 21-14-1 (58.06) | 11-18-1 (52.97) | 3-6-1 (55.5) |
| San Antonio | 34-29-1 (-1.06) | 16-15-1 (-1.69) | 18-14 (-0.44) | 7-3 (0.4) | 30-33-1 (56.19) | 16-15-1 (57.81) | 14-18 (54.56) | 4-6 (57.4) |
| Cleveland | 32-31-2 (4.22) | 18-16 (5.79) | 14-15-2 (2.48) | 3-6-1 (1.7) | 34-30-1 (58.28) | 17-17 (58.21) | 17-13-1 (58.35) | 4-6 (59.3) |
My biggest take away from the NBA first-quarter ATS numbers is that this is far from a profitable market. Only eight teams have brought bettors profit over the course of the season, with the moribund Brooklyn Nets being the only squad that is wildly profitable. Of course, sportsbooks will now have priced the Nets winnings into their lines, so be careful. As the Nets -.22 average margin of victory attests, NBA first quarters against the spread wagers are far from a profitable blind bet.
If you're looking to win, teams like the Jazz, Grizzlies and Rockets are profitable plays.Having said that, those who like to fade popular public teams, like the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets on the first-quarter line will enjoy the data. Keep these teams in mind as you look to handicap upcoming first-quarter NBA lines.
Additionally, teams like the Nuggets, Pistons, and Suns have been highly profitable when betting first quarter OVERS. While the Pacers, Wizards and Hornets have been the teams most likely to go UNDER their first quarter totals.
1st Half ATS Records For 2024-25 NBA Season
| Team | Overall Record Spead | Home Spread | Away Spread | Last 10 Spread | Overall Record Total | Home Total | Away Total | Last 10 Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Lakers | 39-24 (3.38) | 24-8 (7.03) | 15-16 (-0.39) | 7-3 (5.0) | 29-34 (113.29) | 15-17 (113.09) | 14-17 (113.48) | 2-8 (109.2) |
| Brooklyn | 39-26 (-1.26) | 19-12 (-1.94) | 20-14 (-0.65) | 6-4 (0.7) | 32-32-1 (109.29) | 13-18 (106.52) | 19-14-1 (111.82) | 7-3 (114.5) |
| Cleveland | 37-27-1 (6.75) | 23-11 (9.56) | 14-16-1 (3.68) | 5-5 (3.6) | 39-26 (116.32) | 20-14 (117.32) | 19-12 (115.23) | 4-6 (115.8) |
| Toronto | 37-29 (-2.38) | 18-18 (-2.42) | 19-11 (-2.33) | 5-5 (1.8) | 30-36 (111.89) | 18-18 (114.31) | 12-18 (109.0) | 7-3 (112.6) |
| Houston | 37-29 (2.85) | 18-15 (3.15) | 19-14 (2.55) | 6-4 (3.0) | 32-33-1 (110.3) | 17-16 (111.03) | 15-17-1 (109.58) | 6-4 (116.8) |
| Milwaukee | 35-28-2 (2.14) | 18-13-2 (4.48) | 17-15 (-0.28) | 3-7 (-1.5) | 35-30 (116.29) | 18-15 (115.21) | 17-15 (117.41) | 4-6 (117.7) |
| Miami | 36-29 (1.25) | 15-16 (0.1) | 21-13 (2.29) | 7-3 (3.1) | 32-33 (110.2) | 18-13 (110.1) | 14-20 (110.29) | 5-5 (110.5) |
| Detroit | 36-30 (1.23) | 16-16 (1.0) | 20-14 (1.44) | 8-2 (7.4) | 41-24-1 (116.35) | 21-11 (116.38) | 20-13-1 (116.32) | 5-5 (116.8) |
| Oklahoma City | 36-31 (7.04) | 16-19 (7.34) | 20-12 (6.72) | 6-4 (4.1) | 36-31 (115.31) | 19-16 (114.14) | 17-15 (116.59) | 6-4 (126.3) |
| Chicago | 34-31 (-2.94) | 16-18 (-4.06) | 18-13 (-1.71) | 7-3 (1.7) | 36-28-1 (117.65) | 19-14-1 (118.24) | 17-14 (117.0) | 6-4 (118.1) |
Here come the Lakers! LA is now 39-23 ATS in first-halves this season, and have exploded early with Luka Doncic in the lineup. Similarly, the Cavaliers high-flying offense has them covering by 7 points per game on the first-half line this season.
Fading the Denver Nuggets first-half spread has been immensely popular for bettors, yielding 17.6 units. Some other interesting lines to watch are the Cleveland Cavaliers who are a sparkling 23-10 ATS in the first half at home.
As far as first-half totals go, the high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers are predictably the top team in the OVERS market going 39-24. The Atlanta Hawks and their 120 first-half total average, and Detroit Pistons are also worth a look. While the New Orleans Pelicans are also a team to watch in this first-half OVER market when playing at home, going 22-9.
2024-25 NBA Leading 1st Quarter Scorers
| Player | Team | 1Q PPG |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 10 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 9.6 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 9.1 |
| Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers/Dallas Mavericks | 8.6 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 7.8 |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 7.6 |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Lakers | 7.5 |
| James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers | 7.5 |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | 7.4 |
| Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia 76ers | 7.3 |
Statistics accurate as of March 9, 2025; minimum 20 games played
Predictably, perennial NBA MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo headline the leading first-quarter scorers. Having said that, there's still value to be found on this volatile market, and fading many of these top-tier scorers in the first quarter can also be profitable against the right defensive team.
2024-25 NBA Leading 1st Half Scorers
| Player | Team | 1H PPG |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 17 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 14.9 |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Lakers | 14.9 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 14.8 |
| Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | 14.1 |
| Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers/Dallas Mavericks | 14 |
| Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 13 |
| Franz Wagner | Orlando Magic | 13 |
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | 12.7 |
| Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia 76ers | 12.6 |
Statistics accurate as of March 9, 2025; minimum 20 games played
Related News
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.
