What is a push in sports betting?
A push is a tie against the number: the result lands exactly on the spread, total or player line, so the stake is returned and nobody wins or loses.
Updated November 6, 2026, 3:08 PM ET. Source: ESPN.
When a push can happen
Only whole-number lines can push. A half-point line such as 2.5 or 231.5 cannot.
Real examples
- Spread: if a team is listed at -3 and wins by exactly 3, the result is a push. Tonight, ESPN lists 76ers -2.5 (DraftKings), a half-point number with no push possible.
- Total: the 76ers at Cavaliers total is 231.5, so there is no push. A 231 total would push at 231 points.
- Player line: Luka Doncic scored 40 points in his latest game, per ESPN's game log. A 40-point line would have been a push on that night.
Pushes in hit-rate research
A hit rate counts games at or above a threshold, so a game that lands exactly on the number counts as a hit for "40+". That is one reason thresholds and lines are not always the same thing.
Research more
- Tonight's games and lines
- NBA hit rates for every player
- NBA Cup games tonight
- What is EV in sports betting?
- How to read line movement
See every player's hit rates free for 24 hours at darimarket.us.
21+. Research, not picks: this page explains terms and shows past results and lines as listed by ESPN. It is not a prediction. If betting stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
FAQ
What does push mean in betting? The result matches the line exactly, so the stake is refunded.
Can a half-point line push? No. Lines such as 2.5 or 231.5 always have a winner.
Does a push count as a win or a loss? Neither. It is a refund.