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 | 51-30-1 (-1.06) | 24-17 (-1.63) | 27-13-1 (-0.49) | 4-6 (-5.8) | 32-50 (54.5) | 16-25 (52.8) | 16-25 (56.2) | 2-8 (51.4) |
| Houston | 47-34-1 (1.61) | 20-21 (1.17) | 27-13-1 (2.05) | 6-4 (0.9) | 37-43-2 (55.61) | 18-23 (56.44) | 19-20-2 (54.78) | 5-5 (55.9) |
| Memphis | 46-34-2 (1.38) | 22-18-1 (1.54) | 24-16-1 (1.22) | 6-4 (0.8) | 46-36 (60.89) | 28-13 (62.85) | 18-23 (58.93) | 6-4 (61.4) |
| LA Lakers | 47-35 (2.35) | 23-18 (3.37) | 24-17 (1.34) | 4-6 (-0.3) | 45-37 (58.21) | 21-20 (57.32) | 24-17 (59.1) | 5-5 (59.9) |
| Toronto | 46-35-1 (-1.45) | 21-20 (-2.22) | 25-15-1 (-0.68) | 6-4 (2.3) | 40-40-2 (56.01) | 22-18-1 (57.54) | 18-22-1 (54.49) | 5-5 (58.1) |
| Utah | 44-37-1 (-1.96) | 22-19 (-1.71) | 22-18-1 (-2.22) | 4-6 (-5.1) | 38-44 (57.06) | 17-24 (58.63) | 21-20 (55.49) | 5-5 (58.1) |
| Oklahoma City | 43-37-3 (4.28) | 20-23 (4.07) | 23-14-3 (4.5) | 4-6 (3.0) | 47-35-1 (58.25) | 27-16 (58.58) | 20-19-1 (57.9) | 7-3 (66.4) |
| Miami | 43-38-1 (0.96) | 17-23-1 (0.0) | 26-15 (1.93) | 7-3 (4.3) | 37-45 (55.23) | 19-22 (54.54) | 18-23 (55.93) | 6-4 (56.1) |
| Detroit | 43-39 (1.26) | 18-23 (0.56) | 25-16 (1.95) | 3-7 (-1.3) | 47-35 (58.43) | 24-17 (58.51) | 23-18 (58.34) | 6-4 (61.7) |
| Cleveland | 41-39-2 (3.83) | 22-19 (5.49) | 19-20-2 (2.17) | 4-6 (0.0) | 45-36-1 (58.54) | 21-20 (58.17) | 24-16-1 (58.9) | 6-4 (58.0) |
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 -.7 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, 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 50-32 (1.93) | 24-17 (1.17) | 26-15 (2.68) | 8-2 (5.3) | 39-43 (110.07) | 23-18 (110.0) | 16-25 (110.15) | 5-5 (112.7) |
| LA Lakers | 48-34 (3.4) | 28-13 (6.68) | 20-21 (0.12) | 4-6 (3.2) | 42-40 (114.94) | 20-21 (113.17) | 22-19 (116.71) | 6-4 (120.6) |
| Cleveland | 46-34-2 (6.46) | 26-14-1 (9.22) | 20-20-1 (3.71) | 4-5-1 (4.4) | 44-38 (115.93) | 21-20 (116.54) | 23-18 (115.32) | 3-7 (114.0) |
| Brooklyn | 46-36 (-2.6) | 21-20 (-4.27) | 25-16 (-0.93) | 4-6 (-10.8) | 42-38-2 (109.57) | 20-21 (107.54) | 22-17-2 (111.61) | 7-3 (111.2) |
| Toronto | 46-36 (-2.2) | 20-21 (-2.59) | 26-15 (-1.8) | 6-4 (2.8) | 37-45 (111.39) | 19-22 (112.88) | 18-23 (109.9) | 6-4 (109.6) |
| Detroit | 46-36 (1.61) | 22-19 (1.61) | 24-17 (1.61) | 7-3 (2.7) | 51-30-1 (116.46) | 27-14 (116.68) | 24-16-1 (116.24) | 7-3 (117.7) |
| Oklahoma City | 46-37 (7.17) | 21-22 (7.67) | 25-15 (6.62) | 5-5 (5.1) | 45-38 (116.08) | 25-18 (116.09) | 20-20 (116.08) | 7-3 (125.1) |
| Houston | 45-37 (2.59) | 22-19 (3.29) | 23-18 (1.88) | 6-4 (4.1) | 41-40-1 (111.49) | 21-20 (112.61) | 20-20-1 (110.37) | 5-5 (115.9) |
| New York | 43-38-1 (3.15) | 24-17 (5.02) | 19-21-1 (1.27) | 8-2 (8.2) | 39-42-1 (113.39) | 18-22-1 (112.39) | 21-20 (114.39) | 5-5 (112.6) |
| Milwaukee | 43-38-2 (1.61) | 21-19-2 (3.5) | 22-19 (-0.32) | 3-7 (0.8) | 45-38 (116.55) | 24-18 (116.21) | 21-20 (116.9) | 7-3 (120.4) |
The Miami Heat have dethroned the LA Lakers as first-half spread champs, with a 49-30 ATS record. LA is now 46-33 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 6.59 points per game on the first-half line this season.
Fading the Denver Nuggets first-half spread has been immensely popular for bettors, yielding 22.95 units. Some other interesting lines to watch are the Cleveland Cavaliers who are a sparkling 25-14-1 ATS in the first half at home.
As far as first-half totals go, the Atlanta Hawks 50-29 to the OVER and their 120 first-half total average, and the Detroit Pistons, at 48-30-1 need to be on your betting card.
2024-25 NBA Leading 1st Quarter Scorers
| Player | Team | 1Q PPG |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 10.1 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 10.1 |
| Luka Doncic | Los Angeles Lakers/Dallas Mavericks | 8.8 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 8.7 |
| Anthony Davis | Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Lakers | 8.4 |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 7.9 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 7.8 |
| James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers | 7.7 |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | 7.5 |
| Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | 7.3 |
Statistics accurate as of April 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.
Watch out for Luka early in games, as he's averaged nine first quarter points, and 16 first-half points this season.
2024-25 NBA Leading 1st Half Scorers
| Player | Team | 1H PPG |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | 16.9 |
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks/Los Angeles Lakers | 15.7 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 15.5 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | 14.6 |
| Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | 14.1 |
| Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers/Dallas Mavericks | 13.6 |
| Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic | 13.5 |
| Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | 13.5 |
| Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 12.9 |
| Karl -Anthony Towns | New York Knicks | 12.7 |
Statistics accurate as of April 9, 2025; minimum 20 games played
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.
