The NBA issued a correction Tuesday after bettors pointed out an assist erroneously credited to Chris Paul in the Utah Jazz–Phoenix Suns game earlier this week, the latest stat-keeping error to cause controversy in the sports betting community.
Paul was credited with an assist on a Devin Booker basket in the first quarter of Monday’s game. Video replays show Suns forward Mikal Bridges made the pass that led to Booker’s driving bank shot and gave Phoenix a 9-4 lead.
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The over/under on Bridges’ assists was 2.5 at most sportsbooks. He finished with five assists in the official box score, so most bets on his assist total were not impacted. However, many sportsbooks allow bettors to adjust totals on prop bets at alternate odds. It’s similar to buying points on a point spread. For example, on Monday, some bettors moved Bridges’ assist total up to six at around 14-1 odds — and ultimately lost due to Paul being credited with the assist to Booker.
After the correction, Bridges finished with six assists, and Paul, who initially was credited with 14 assists, now has 13 in the box score on NBA.com.
Sportsbooks like BetMGM, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, typically settle bets based on the official box score released the day of the game. If the NBA changes a stat the next day, bets are not impacted.
With sports betting rapidly expanding in the U.S. — and leagues like the NBA partnering with bookmakers — there is more scrutiny than ever on every rebound and every assist. As part of their deals with the NBA, sportsbooks receive official data from the league, which is used to grade wagers.