Ricky Dimon
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We have an 8-game NBA slate to work with on Friday, highlighted by a doubleheader on ESPN. It begins with the NBA In-Season Tournament champion Lakers paying a visit to San Antonio before Phoenix hosts the Knicks. New Orleans, Philadelphia, Indiana and Boston are also taking the court. Below is my mega parlay for Friday, and also be sure to check out all of our NBA picks.
Pelicans -9.5 alternate spread (+126)
Lakers -7.5 (-110)
Grizzlies ML (+136)
NBA parlay odds: +918
For this NBA parlaym we are going with 2 favorites against the spread (1 on an alternate number) and an underdog on the money line. Let’s break down each of the 3 legs.
New Orleans Pelicans -9.5 alternate spread over Charlotte Hornets (+126)
Outside of a terrible performance against the Lakers in the In-Season Tournament semifinals, the Pelicans have not lost since December 2. They have otherwise won 3 in a row overall and have bounced back from that loss to L.A. by hammering Minnesota by 14 points and Washington by 20. Now New Orleans has a favorable matchup on its hands with Charlotte, which is 7-15 overall and 1-4 in its last 5. Its last 3 losses have all come by double-digits and it would be no surprise if another such setback is in the cards for Friday. Terry Rozier and Brandon Miller are playing well, but P.J. Washington left the game against Miami earlier this week with a shoulder contusion and Mark Williams (back) has missed each of the last 2 contests. Both seem uncertain at best for today’s outing. Look for the in-form Pelicans to capitalize on an overmatched opponent.
Los Angeles Lakers -7.5 over San Antonio Spurs (-110)
Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7…not 16, not 17… No, the Spurs have lost 18 games in a row heading into Friday’s date with the Lakers. Victor Wembanyama and company actually started the season 3-2; they are now 3-20. Head coach Gregg Popovich’s crew isn’t as bad as Detroit (21 consecutive losses), but it is quite bad. Now the Spurs have to face LeBron James and the IST champion Lakers. LeBron sat out Wednesday’s clash against the Spurs, so he will be well-rested for this one. Los Angeles won that game by just 3 points, but – again – LeBron didn’t play. It will likely be a much different story tonight. Anthony Davis has been an absolute machine of late, so the visitors can be expected to have way too much firepower. The Lakers are 8-1 SU in their last 9 at San Antonio and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 head-to-head meetings overall.
Read our full Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs predictions
Memphis Grizzlies ML over Houston Rockets (+136)
The Grizzlies have lost the first 2 head-to-head meetings with the Rockets this season, but I’m not concerned about that fact. Both of those games were on the road, but this one will be at home on Friday night. Memphis also lost to Utah twice on the road only to defeat the Jazz inside the FedEx Forum in late November. Make no mistake about it: the Grizzlies stink without Ja Morant. But they are a respectable 3-4 in their last 7 contests, clearly playing much better basketball ahead of their star player’s imminent return.
Houston has won 4 in a row overall, and that is why you can grab Memphis as a significant underdog. This game is grossly mispriced; the reason why is that the Rockets are a laughable 1-8 on the road this season compared to 11-1 at home. They should not be favored on the road against anyone – except maybe Detroit and San Antonio. Give me the Grizz to win outright.
Read our best NBA player prop bets for tonight’s action
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