Intro to NBA in Arizona

The NBA is very popular in Arizona because of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are the only basketball franchise in the state, and they are adored by people all over Arizona as well as the western portion of the United States. 

The Suns play in the Western Conference Pacific Division, and the franchise has spent its entire tenure in the state. The Suns were established in 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona, and they currently compete in the Phoenix Suns Arena.  

The Suns have never won an NBA Championship, but they have acquired two Western Conference Championships and six division titles. Eleven players are in the Phoenix Suns Hall of Fame, including Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Steve Nash. 

The western portion of the United States is loaded with NBA fans because of the Western Conference’s significant teams. 

NBA Season Structure 

The NBA is composed of 30 teams. Twenty-nine of these teams play in the United States, and one is located in Toronto, Canada. The teams begin their training camps in September in preparation for the season.

There are preseason games played in the NBA season before the regular season, beginning in the last week of October. Each team plays 82 games, 41 at home and 41 on the road. A team will play four games against every team in their division, which totals 16 games. 

A franchise plays 36 more games against teams in their respective conference and 30 games against the 15 clubs in the opposite conference. At the end of the regular season in April, the playoffs begin in the NBA.

The top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs. Division ranking does not matter for playoff seedings. A franchise must be in the top eight spots of the Western or Eastern Conference. 

There are four playoff rounds, including the NBA Finals series, which is seven-games played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The winner receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. 

Where to Bet NBA in Arizona 

You are able to bet the NBA at Phoenix Suns Arena in a retail betting format. The Suns joined forces with FanDuel to create a luxury sportsbook. There will also be retail sportsbooks at the other professional sports venues in the state. 

Tribal casinos were also given the right to open landlocked sportsbooks. However, most people will still wager from their mobile devices. There will be up to 20 mobile sports betting platforms in AZ. 

Types of NBA Bets in Arizona

When NBA betting is legalized in Arizona, there will be many betting options for people in the state. The best NBA betting strategy is to place a wide variety of bets on the NBA. This will yield the biggest payouts. When you bet on the NBA, you must understand what is happening in the league and the matchups to be a successful bettor. 

Moneyline – The moneyline is a simple bet. This is when you pick a team to win straight up over another team. If you choose the Suns to beat the Lakers, this would be an example of a moneyline wager. 

If a team has negative odds, they are the favorite in the matchup. If a team has positive odds, they are the underdog. It’s not wise to bet heavy favorites or underdogs on the moneyline. Both of these bets are risky. 

Point Spread – The point spread is the wager type that equalizes favorites and underdogs. With point spread bets, you can choose a team to be within a certain number of points instead of winning a game. 

Ex) The Suns are -8.5 over the Lakers, meaning they are an 8.5-point favorite. 

It would also mean that the Lakers are +8.5, so they are an 8.5-point underdog. If you bet the Suns, they must win by 9 points. If you choose the Lakers, they must be within eight points or win the game.  

Totals (Over/Under) – The primary total to bet in an NBA game is the over/under. This bet allows you to support both team’s offense and defense to determine if a total will go over or under at the end of regulation. 

Prop Bets – Prop bets are tough to win, but they are a lot of fun to wager on the NBA. This is when you wager individual players or team statistics for a game. An example of this bet would be, “Will the Suns shoot over or under 45% from the field.”

Future Bets – Future bets are when you wager a team or player to win something in the future. Picking next year’s NBA Champion is an example of a future bet. 

Parlay Bets – Parlay bets are when you combine single wagers into a group. This lowers the chance of your bet hitting, but it will increase your payout if you win. 

Live Betting on NBA in Arizona 

All basketball bettors should utilize live betting on the NBA in Arizona. Live betting helps you win bets because you can determine a game’s flow before placing a wager. You can do a lot of research before an NBA game, but it’s impossible to win 100% of your bets.

Live betting allows you to see what is happening in a game before you place a bet. With live betting, you can wager at any point in a contest with constantly changing odds. One basket can immensely change the live point spread, moneyline odds, or total in the game.

If you utilize live betting correctly, it can really help you win big on the sport. If you want to bet a heavy favorite, wait until the game starts to wager. If a favorite goes down by a few possessions in an NBA game, you can win a lot more money because of the heightened odds.

You can place all wager types in a live betting format. You can also do a parlay live on a variety of games to earn an increased payout. You must implement live betting into your routine when Arizona legalizes sports betting because it will pay dividends with your finances. 

Tips for Betting NBA in Arizona 

There are a lot of NBA tips that are available from handicappers in the sport. The most extensive information you must remember is always doing your pregame research before placing a bet. In the NBA and all sports leagues, knowledge is key to entering a successful wager. 

Betting is truly a numbers game, and when you wager off feel, you will lose. Pregame research is critical to winning on all types of basketball bets. 

You should always study advanced statistics as well as how a team is performing in their recent games. Recent games give a great indication of how a team is playing. It helps bettors determine what NBA teams are hot and what NBA teams are cold. 

Break down the statistics in these games before placing a bet, and you will see the benefit. Another tip for the NBA is to utilize live betting. Star players make a significant difference in basketball games, so it’s always good to see what is happening in a game before placing a bet. 

The NBA is a massive league with a lot happening. A tip that many great bettors use is focusing on one division or conference. If you narrow the teams that you wager, you will be able to have more knowledge. Knowledge equals victories while betting the NBA in Arizona. 

Things to Avoid Betting NBA in Arizona 

In Arizona, there are many Phoenix Suns fans because it’s the only NBA team in the state. The Suns have put together a lot of great seasons in their history since 1968. If you live in Arizona and support a team outside of the state, this principle still applies to you as a bettor.

Never allow your biases to slip into your NBA betting in Arizona. The point of sports betting is to win money, and if you fail, you did not accomplish the goal. It’s hard to bet against your team, but you need to do so to win if it’s the correct move.

The intelligent thing is to never bet on a game that involves your favorite team. Although, there are a lot of NBA bettors that do not follow this strategy. If you are going to bet on games that involve your favorite teams, remove your favoritism from the betting equation. 

If you place bets off numbers, this should never be an issue. Another thing to avoid in the NBA is loss chasing. If you are on a cold streak, stop betting for a short period. Never attempt to chase your losses on the NBA because it will result in you losing more money. 

If you stay away from these two things, you will improve your NBA winning percentage.

FAQ About NBA Betting in Arizona

Is sports betting legal in Arizona?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Arizona. 

Are there any betting restrictions on the NBA in Arizona?

No, there are no betting restrictions on the NBA when it’s legalized in Arizona.

Are there any NBA teams in Arizona?

Yes, there is one NBA team in Arizona. The Phoenix Suns were established in 1968 and have played in the state ever since. 

What division do the Suns compete in?

The Suns play in the Western Conference Pacific Division of the NBA. 

Have the Suns ever won an NBA Championship?

The Suns have never won an NBA Championship, but they have gained two Western Conference Championships in franchise history. 

What are the best NBA bets to make in Arizona?

The best NBA bets are the point spread and total wagers.