NBA 1st Quarter & 1st Half Betting Report

If you’re the type who hits the sack early, NBA first-quarter and first-half betting will definitely 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. For the OVER/UNDER tables, we use the same criteria, 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 March 14

1st Quarter ATS Records 2022-23:
Team Overall Record Home Away Last 10
Timberwolves 40-28-1 (1.52) 21-15 (1.67) 19-13-1 (1.36) 7-3 (4.8)
Grizzlies 39-26-2 (2.39) 21-11-1 (4.48) 18-15-1 (0.35) 9-1 (5.6)
Knicks 39-29-2 (1.84) 23-11-1 (4.86) 16-18-1 (-1.17) 6-4 (3.4)
Bulls 38-26-3 (1.16) 17-15-1 (0.67) 21-11-2 (1.65) 4-5-1 (0.8)
Nuggets 38-29-1 (3.34) 20-15-1 (4.72) 18-14 (1.78) 5-5 (3.4)
Wizards 37-29-2 (0.84) 17-14-1 (1.28) 20-15-1 (0.44) 6-4 (0.9)
Thunder 37-29-2 (-0.44) 19-15-1 (0.14) 18-14-1 (-1.06) 6-4 (2.1)
Bucks 37-29-2 (2.34) 17-16-1 (2.18) 20-13-1 (2.5) 5-5 (3.3)
Suns 36-31-1 (0.12) 17-15-1 (1.48) 19-16 (-1.17) 4-5-1 (-0.1)
Nets 35-33 (-0.15) 20-11 (3.58) 15-22 (-3.27) 3-7 (-6.5)
Rockets 35-33 (-2.41) 20-14 (0.56) 15-19 (-5.38) 6-4 (-0.1)
Hawks 34-34-1 (-0.25) 18-14-1 (0.97) 16-20 (-1.36) 6-4 (3.0)
Lakers 34-32-2 (-1.07) 18-14-2 (0.62) 16-18 (-2.76) 6-4 (1.6)
Spurs 33-33-1 (-3.49) 20-14 (-2.12) 13-19-1 (-4.91) 4-6 (-5.3)
Jazz 33-36 (-0.68) 15-18 (0.42) 18-18 (-1.69) 4-6 (-4.9)
Raptors 33-35 (0.51) 18-15 (1.85) 15-20 (-0.74) 5-5 (1.6)
Magic 33-33-2 (-0.6) 16-18-1 (0.03) 17-15-1 (-1.27) 4-6 (0.1)
Heat 33-34-3 (-0.8) 19-16-1 (0.44) 14-18-2 (-2.12) 6-4 (-1.7)
Cavaliers 33-37 (0.79) 16-19 (1.91) 17-18 (-0.34) 2-8 (-3.9)
76ers 32-35 (1.37) 17-19 (1.11) 15-16 (1.68) 3-7 (-2.8)
Celtics 31-36-2 (2.91) 16-17-2 (4.17) 15-19 (1.62) 5-5 (2.3)
Clippers 31-36-2 (-0.04) 15-18 (0.76) 16-18-2 (-0.78) 4-6 (0.0)
Pelicans 31-36-1 (0.44) 15-19 (1.5) 16-17-1 (-0.62) 4-6 (-2.2)
Trail Blazers 31-35-2 (-0.94) 14-17-1 (-0.59) 17-18-1 (-1.25) 6-4 (1.4)
Hornets 31-35-4 (-1.69) 13-18-2 (-0.61) 18-17-2 (-2.65) 6-4 (2.8)
Warriors 30-38-1 (-0.29) 15-20-1 (1.83) 15-18 (-2.61) 2-8 (-5.9)
Kings 30-35-2 (-0.37) 18-17 (0.69) 12-18-2 (-1.53) 6-3-1 (1.3)
Mavericks 30-38-1 (1.01) 14-22 (2.19) 16-16-1 (-0.27) 4-6 (1.1)
Pistons 28-40-1 (-3.29) 12-23-1 (-3.56) 16-17 (-3.0) 5-4-1 (-3.8)
Pacers 23-45-1 (-4.01) 10-24-1 (-4.0) 13-21 (-4.03) 6-4 (-2.5)

Move over Grizzlies, there are a bunch of new first-quarter kings. The Timberwolves are the new first-quarter kings with a 40-28-1 record.

The Knicks have restored themselves after a bit of a free fall. New York is 6-4 ATS over its last 10, and the Knicks are 23-11-1 ATS at Madison Square Garden this year.

1st Quarter O/U Records 2022-23:
Team Overall Record Home Away Last 10
Wizards 44-24 (58.1) 23-9 (59.28) 21-15 (57.06) 4-6 (54.9)
Warriors 41-27-1 (60.87) 20-15-1 (60.06) 21-12 (61.76) 4-6 (60.3)
Spurs 39-28 (60.03) 18-16 (58.65) 21-12 (61.45) 5-5 (58.1)
Heat 39-29-2 (57.46) 23-12-1 (58.5) 16-17-1 (56.35) 6-4 (58.9)
Mavericks 37-28-4 (58.17) 19-15-2 (56.86) 18-13-2 (59.61) 3-6-1 (56.7)
Timberwolves 37-32 (59.35) 21-15 (59.83) 16-17 (58.82) 5-5 (61.2)
Bucks 37-30-1 (57.93) 20-14 (60.82) 17-16-1 (55.03) 5-5 (60.1)
76ers 35-29-3 (57.97) 19-15-2 (57.28) 16-14-1 (58.77) 5-5 (61.2)
Pelicans 35-33 (57.5) 19-15 (58.68) 16-18 (56.32) 6-4 (58.0)
Rockets 35-31-2 (58.06) 13-19-2 (55.79) 22-12 (60.32) 5-4-1 (59.1)
Raptors 34-32-2 (56.54) 18-15 (56.27) 16-17-2 (56.8) 4-6 (52.8)
Hawks 34-33-2 (59.35) 13-20 (57.21) 21-13-2 (61.31) 5-5 (61.2)
Pistons 34-34-1 (57.46) 20-16 (58.61) 14-18-1 (56.21) 4-6 (56.0)
Jazz 33-36 (57.35) 15-18 (58.36) 18-18 (56.42) 6-4 (59.5)
Knicks 33-34-3 (56.59) 15-18-2 (55.77) 18-16-1 (57.4) 5-4-1 (57.6)
Celtics 33-33-3 (58.04) 15-19-1 (57.2) 18-14-2 (58.91) 5-4-1 (59.3)
Suns 33-33-2 (55.65) 15-17-1 (56.03) 18-16-1 (55.29) 5-5 (58.1)
Clippers 33-33-3 (55.29) 16-17 (55.48) 17-16-3 (55.11) 3-7 (56.0)
Kings 32-32-3 (61.12) 20-14-1 (61.83) 12-18-2 (60.34) 7-2-1 (65.9)
Thunder 32-34-2 (59.91) 16-17-2 (60.37) 16-17 (59.42) 5-4-1 (60.9)
Grizzlies 32-33-2 (56.75) 16-16-1 (57.88) 16-17-1 (55.65) 3-6-1 (53.6)
Cavaliers 32-36-2 (55.39) 15-19-1 (53.97) 17-17-1 (56.8) 5-5 (56.3)
Bulls 31-34-2 (56.93) 17-14-2 (57.88) 14-20 (56.0) 4-6 (57.8)
Hornets 31-35-4 (57.74) 14-15-4 (57.64) 17-20 (57.84) 4-6 (55.6)
Pacers 31-37-1 (58.57) 17-18 (58.97) 14-19-1 (58.15) 6-4 (61.5)
Nets 31-36-1 (57.59) 13-18 (55.77) 18-18-1 (59.11) 4-6 (59.3)
Magic 31-37 (56.4) 14-21 (55.91) 17-16 (56.91) 5-5 (58.1)
Nuggets 30-37-1 (58.72) 16-20 (58.5) 14-17-1 (58.97) 4-6 (58.0)
Trail Blazers 30-36-2 (57.79) 14-18 (56.91) 16-18-2 (58.58) 7-3 (61.0)
Lakers 29-36-3 (57.51) 15-16-3 (59.09) 14-20 (55.94) 4-5-1 (55.6)

Strangely enough, the Wizards — who are 32-34-2 O/U in full games — are money (44-24) on the OVER in the first quarter. There’s definitely cash to be made in this scenario, as the Wiz are 21st in the NBA in team scoring (112.9 PPG). Sportsbooks may underestimate Washington’s ability to score big in the first. 

1st Half ATS Records 2022-23:
Team Overall Record Home Away Last 10
Knicks 48-21-1 (3.36) 26-8-1 (6.03) 22-13 (0.69) 7-3 (6.8)
Grizzlies 41-25-1 (3.7) 23-9-1 (7.58) 18-16 (-0.06) 6-4 (6.2)
Celtics 39-30 (4.09) 21-14 (5.91) 18-16 (2.21) 7-3 (3.9)
Timberwolves 38-31 (1.58) 18-18 (0.81) 20-13 (2.42) 7-3 (4.1)
Pelicans 38-30 (1.15) 20-14 (3.59) 18-16 (-1.29) 4-6 (-1.8)
Lakers 36-31-1 (-0.41) 19-15 (1.53) 17-16-1 (-2.35) 4-6 (-0.3)
Rockets 36-29-3 (-4.07) 21-12-1 (0.21) 15-17-2 (-8.35) 5-5 (-4.6)
Warriors 36-32-1 (0.84) 21-15 (3.67) 15-17-1 (-2.24) 3-7 (-1.7)
Nuggets 36-32 (3.25) 19-17 (6.69) 17-15 (-0.62) 5-5 (1.7)
Wizards 36-30-2 (-0.56) 19-12-1 (0.66) 17-18-1 (-1.64) 5-4-1 (-1.7)
Thunder 36-31-1 (-0.24) 18-17 (0.91) 18-14-1 (-1.45) 7-3 (3.9)
Magic 36-32 (-1.94) 16-19 (-2.03) 20-13 (-1.85) 4-6 (-0.3)
Bucks 36-30-2 (2.07) 16-16-2 (2.29) 20-14 (1.85) 8-2 (5.8)
Kings 35-31-1 (0.39) 20-14-1 (3.11) 15-17 (-2.59) 7-3 (4.6)
Raptors 34-34 (0.28) 18-15 (2.0) 16-19 (-1.34) 3-7 (-2.4)
Trail Blazers 34-33-1 (-0.01) 16-15-1 (1.47) 18-18 (-1.33) 6-4 (0.6)
Cavaliers 34-34-2 (2.27) 18-17 (3.2) 16-17-2 (1.34) 3-7 (-3.6)
Suns 32-33-3 (1.06) 15-16-2 (1.24) 17-17-1 (0.89) 3-7 (-0.8)
Jazz 32-35-2 (-0.75) 16-17 (1.18) 16-18-2 (-2.53) 4-6 (-5.3)
Pistons 31-36-2 (-4.42) 15-20-1 (-3.69) 16-16-1 (-5.21) 5-5 (-5.0)
Bulls 31-35-1 (0.66) 15-17-1 (1.27) 16-18 (0.06) 6-4 (5.2)
Spurs 31-35-1 (-4.84) 16-17-1 (-3.82) 15-18 (-5.88) 4-6 (-3.6)
Mavericks 29-37-3 (0.01) 18-17-1 (3.81) 11-20-2 (-4.12) 5-5 (-1.6)
76ers 29-38 (2.24) 16-20 (2.08) 13-18 (2.42) 4-6 (-0.4)
Pacers 29-40 (-2.2) 15-20 (-1.54) 14-20 (-2.88) 6-4 (-0.7)
Heat 28-41-1 (-0.11) 11-24-1 (0.36) 17-17 (-0.62) 2-8 (-3.3)
Nets 28-38-2 (-0.09) 16-14-1 (5.9) 12-24-1 (-5.11) 3-7 (-6.3)
Hawks 28-39-2 (-0.38) 16-16-1 (1.24) 12-23-1 (-1.86) 5-4-1 (0.2)
Clippers 26-42-1 (-1.97) 11-22 (-1.58) 15-20-1 (-2.33) 4-6 (0.2)
Hornets 26-44 (-4.89) 12-21 (-3.48) 14-23 (-6.14) 5-5 (-4.0)

Despite tumbling a peg in the first-quarter rankings, New York is easily the NBA’s best first-half team ATS with a 48-21-1 record. There could be a route to solid plus money here, especially if you’re live-betting.

1st Half O/U Records 2022-23:
Team Overall Record Home Away Last 10
Heat 40-28-2 (112.6) 22-12-2 (112.14) 18-16 (113.09) 5-4-1 (115.5)
Kings 39-27-1 (121.85) 24-11 (123.34) 15-16-1 (120.22) 7-3 (127.4)
Thunder 38-30 (117.88) 21-14 (118.74) 17-16 (116.97) 6-4 (117.7)
Clippers 38-31 (112.06) 15-18 (112.12) 23-13 (112.0) 5-5 (118.0)
Nuggets 38-30 (118.19) 19-17 (116.97) 19-13 (119.56) 5-5 (117.3)
Jazz 37-31-1 (116.38) 16-16-1 (118.94) 21-15 (114.03) 5-5 (112.7)
Spurs 37-30 (118.84) 20-14 (117.0) 17-16 (120.73) 4-6 (120.0)
Warriors 36-32-1 (120.2) 16-20 (117.0) 20-12-1 (123.7) 3-7 (116.5)
Knicks 35-33-2 (114.33) 20-14-1 (114.26) 15-19-1 (114.4) 6-4 (119.0)
Raptors 35-32-1 (113.07) 15-18 (111.27) 20-14-1 (114.77) 4-6 (109.2)
Hawks 35-34 (118.87) 15-18 (116.21) 20-16 (121.31) 5-5 (120.6)
Nets 35-30-3 (116.21) 13-16-2 (114.23) 22-14-1 (117.86) 6-4 (117.7)
76ers 34-32-1 (115.07) 16-19-1 (113.36) 18-13 (117.06) 4-6 (118.6)
Wizards 33-32-3 (115.09) 18-12-2 (117.72) 15-20-1 (112.75) 2-8 (108.7)
Celtics 33-36 (116.93) 18-17 (116.31) 15-19 (117.56) 4-6 (115.7)
Hornets 33-37 (116.03) 12-21 (114.7) 21-16 (117.22) 2-8 (111.6)
Timberwolves 33-36 (116.28) 18-18 (116.19) 15-18 (116.36) 4-6 (120.3)
Mavericks 32-35-2 (114.1) 16-19-1 (112.86) 16-16-1 (115.45) 5-5 (116.2)
Rockets 32-35-1 (116.31) 13-21 (112.68) 19-14-1 (119.94) 5-5 (120.0)
Grizzlies 31-34-2 (113.34) 18-14-1 (116.48) 13-20-1 (110.29) 3-7 (109.0)
Trail Blazers 31-35-2 (116.69) 16-15-1 (117.28) 15-20-1 (116.17) 4-6 (116.8)
Magic 31-37 (113.32) 17-18 (112.49) 14-19 (114.21) 4-6 (116.1)
Pacers 31-37-1 (117.1) 15-19-1 (116.29) 16-18 (117.94) 6-4 (121.1)
Lakers 30-38 (115.71) 14-20 (117.0) 16-18 (114.41) 4-6 (112.7)
Pistons 29-39-1 (114.59) 18-18 (117.03) 11-21-1 (111.94) 3-7 (108.6)
Cavaliers 28-41-1 (110.19) 12-23 (107.09) 16-18-1 (113.29) 4-5-1 (112.8)
Pelicans 28-40 (111.97) 16-18 (114.59) 12-22 (109.35) 3-7 (110.4)
Bucks 28-39-1 (113.16) 17-17 (118.59) 11-22-1 (107.74) 4-6 (115.8)
Bulls 27-38-2 (112.42) 15-17-1 (114.85) 12-21-1 (110.06) 3-7 (107.0)
Suns 25-43 (110.35) 11-22 (111.24) 14-21 (109.51) 6-4 (116.4)

Sacramento is the team to watch here. In the first half of games on the road, the Kings are 15-16-1 O/U/P. Yet when they play at home, they are 24-11 on the OVER. If you’re laying a wager on Sacramento this season, especially early in the game, check if the Kings are home or away – it could make or break your bet. 

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.