Demystifying "3 Way No Push" Betting in Basketball

Hey there sports betting friend! If you‘ve started wading into the wide world of basketball betting, you may have come across the term "3 way no push" on a betting slip and wondered – what the heck does that mean? I‘m here to provide an expert breakdown on everything you need to know about this unique type of basketball wager.

As an experienced data analyst and hoops betting guru here at 33rdsquare, I‘ve dissected every angle of 3 way no push betting lines. While they may seem complex at first glance, my goal is to clearly explain how these bets work and when they can be valuable for sharp bettors seeking an edge.

Let‘s start with the absolute basics…

A Quick Intro to 3 Way No Push Basketball Bets

In simple terms, a "3 way no push" bet removes the possibility of a wager resulting in a tie or "push" – when you get your original bet amount back. With a standard basketball moneyline or point spread bet, if the game lands exactly on the spread or margin, it‘s a push.

For example, if you bet the Los Angeles Lakers at -6.5 points against the Boston Celtics:

• If the Lakers win by 7+ points, you win the bet
• If the Lakers win by exactly 6 points, it‘s a push so you get your money back
• If the Lakers win by 5 or fewer points, you lose

Makes sense so far right? Now here‘s where the 3 way no push line gets interesting…

With a 3 way no push basketball bet, there are NO pushes or ties. Only two possible outcomes exist – you either win or lose the bet.

Using that same Lakers vs Celtics matchup:

• If the Lakers win the game by ANY margin, you win
• If the game somehow ends in a super rare tie, you lose
• If the Celtics win the game by any margin, you lose

So the 3 way line removes the middle "push" scenario in exchange for definitive win/lose outcomes on every wager. Let‘s dig into the details…

How Do 3 Way No Push Basketball Bets Actually Work?

There are three fundamental outcomes possible with a 3 way no push basketball bet:

Team A Wins

If you bet on Team A, you win the wager if they win the game by any score. It doesn‘t matter if they win by 1 point or 51 points – as long as Team A is victorious, your bet cashes.

Team B Wins

On the flip side, if Team B ends up winning, you lose the bet regardless of the score. Again, Team B could win by a single point or a massive blowout – either way, your wager is toast.

Game Ends in a Tie

If the super rare scenario occurs where the game finishes in a tie (more on that next), you lose the 3 way no push bet no matter which side you bet on. Some sportsbooks may consider this a push, so check the rules.

The main perk of a 3 way line is removing any uncertainty around the "push" condition. But this definitiveness comes with a tradeoff, which leads us to…

The Pros and Cons of 3 Way No Push Basketball Bets

Like most betting options, 3 way no push lines come with both advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

• Removes push possibilities for definitive win/lose outcomes
• Can provide better value than moneylines in games unlikely to tie
• Allows betting 1st quarter or halftime spreads without push risk
• Eliminates uncertainty if a game lands right on the spread

Cons

• Reduced payouts compared to regular point spreads and moneylines
• Still lower value in NBA where ties are non-existent
• Adds complexity around parlays
• Requires understanding the "tie" condition

Now let‘s explore why this format makes sense for the first quarter…

Betting First Quarter Spreads 3 Way No Push

One of the most common applications for 3 way no push lines is betting 1st quarter spreads in basketball. This eliminates the chance of a push if the game is tied after the opening 12 minutes of play.

For example:

• Miami Heat +2.5 1st quarter 3 way no push
• Los Angeles Lakers -2.5 1st quarter 3 way no push

If you bet the Heat +2.5 points:

• You win if the Heat are leading or tied after 1st quarter
• You lose if the Lakers lead by 3+ points

Removing the push possibility provides definitive outcomes on every 1st quarter wager. And since these lines are lower scoring than full games, ties occur more often. Let‘s examine just how frequently…

Just How Often Do Basketball Games End in Ties?

When gauging the value of 3 way no push lines, it‘s helpful to understand how commonly basketball games end in ties.

In the NBA, regulation ties are exceptionally rare thanks to continuous overtime periods. The last tied NBA game came back in 1948 between the Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers – before the shot clock era!

In college basketball, ties are slightly more frequent but still uncommon. Per NCAA data, an average of just 2-3 games per season have ended tied after a single overtime period since 2009. And approximately 80% of college games don‘t even go to overtime.

The bottom line: while ties sporadically happen in NCAA hoops, they remain highly unlikely in any given matchup. For NBA contests, regulation ties are essentially non-existent.

This illustrates why 3 way no push lines can provide value – the probability of a tie is very low, so removing that condition may not significantly diminish a bet‘s value despite the lower payouts.

To demonstrate, let‘s walk through a real betting scenario…

A 3 Way No Push Betting Example

Here‘s an example using real betting odds for a 2022 NBA matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics:

Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics

Standard point spread:  
Lakers -6.5 points (-110 odds)
Celtics +6.5 points (-110)

3 way no push point spread:
Lakers -6.5 (-150) 
Celtics +6.5 (+120) 

Standard moneyline:  
Lakers -250
Celtics +190

3 way no push moneyline: 
Lakers -300
Celtics +240

For this game, the Lakers are 6.5 point favorites on the normal spread with -110 odds on both sides. This means you would need to bet $110 to win $100.

The 3 way no push spread of Lakers -6.5 lowers the payout to -150 odds for LA bettors. But it eliminates the possibility of a push if the Lakers win by exactly 6 points.

Similarly, the standard moneyline provides +190 odds for an underdog Celtics bet. The 3 way format reduces this payout to +240, removing the tie outcome in the process.

As you can see, the 3 way lines sacrifice some payout value in exchange for definitive win/loss results on every wager.

Key Strategy Tips for Betting 3 Way No Push

Now that you‘ve got a solid handle on how these bets work, here are some pro tips for betting 3 way lines successfully:

• Line shop for the best value – Compare odds and payouts at multiple sportsbooks to find the highest value 3 way lines.

• Consider tie frequencies – Research historical tie rates in the league you‘re betting. This helps assess if the format makes sense.

• Use carefully for parlays – 3 way bets can complicate parlays if you don‘t understand how ties are treated.

• Bet conservatively on periods – Spreads are lower for quarters and halves, so ties are more likely. Don‘t bet heavy favorites.

• Avoid massive moneylines – The value on huge moneyline chalk is wiped out in 3 way format.

• Watch for line movement – If 3 way no push lines see a big shift towards picks or ties, beware of sharp action.

• Track your ROI – Analyze your return on 3 way bets vs. standard lines over a large sample to identify value.

The Bottom Line

While 3 way no push betting lines involve sacrificed value and complexity, they provide definitive win/loss outcomes on every wager. In low-scoring periods like 1st quarters, and leagues where ties are infrequent like the NBA, removing the push possibility can prove beneficial with the right strategy.

Hopefully this deep dive demystified how to approach 3 way no push betting across basketball. Thanks for reading – now go crush your next hoops wager! Have any other sports betting questions? Hit me up here at 33rdsquare and I‘ll be happy to help a fellow sports fan.