First thing to know is that you are likely to lose money. Not saying that as a knock or anything as MOST people that bet on sports lose. It just comes down to how well you can manage your risk. Be prepared to lose, and be prepared for some of the losses to come in the worst way possible. I'm not saying you can't win or be a winning better over a period of time, but in the long run, most end up losing.
Now, with that being said, here are some real basics.
If there are two teams facing each other in the NBA, one team is going to be the favorite. That is why you will see a spread that says -7 1/2 (-110). That means if you take the team that is the favorite, they HAVE to win by MORE than 7 1/2 points. In that example, the -110 means that to win $100 you have to bet $110. That is how the sportsbooks make their money as the other side of the bet will be + 7 1/2 (-110) in all likelihood. The reason for the spread is because one team is the favorite and the other is the underdog. You won't get the same value betting straight up on a favorite like you will an underdog.
Now, if you want to just bet without needing the team you're betting on to win be a certain amount of points or lose by less than a certain amount, you will be the ML (money-line). If a team is a heavy favorite, they may be -500. That means if you want to win $100, you need to wager $500 on that team. If you choose an underdog that is +350, that means if you bet $100 you will win $350 if the team you're betting on wins. That's the simplest way I can explain it.
You can almost assuredly find great YouTube videos and information out there, but that is the bare basics I just posted. Also, DO NOT pay for picks from any "guru". It is close to 99.5% that those people are NOT winning bettors, and it makes zero sense to pay for picks. It is the biggest scam out there. Do NOT pay for picks or a subscription for some "guru".
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