Ricky Dimon
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This weekend in the NBA is tipping off with 9-game slate on Friday night. It includes a doubleheader on ESPN, starting with the Brooklyn Nets visiting the Atlanta Hawks and wrapping up with the Phoenix Suns playing host to the Boston Celtics. The Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers are among the other teams in action.
Needless to say, there is more than enough to work with as we formulate today’s mega parlay.
Mavericks ML (+115)
Pelicans -9.5 adjusted spread (+135)
Lakers/Thunder over 215.5 (-110)
Parlay odds: +865
For this parlay we are going with one favorite against an alternate spread, one underdog on the money line, and an over play. Let’s break down each of the three legs.
Dallas Mavericks ML over Indiana Pacers (+115)
The Pacers have won two straight games, but the competition level has been unspectacular and they are still third-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings. Indiana is decent but nothing special at home, so it’s not like the Mavericks can’t pick up a road win. In fact, Luke Doncic and company just got their 3-game trip started with a 104-96 defeat of Memphis on Wednesday. Justin Holiday is still out for the Pacers because of health and safety protocols, which is a substantial loss on both ends of the floor. Don’t be surprised if the Mavs pull off a minor upset.
Check out all our NBA previews and picks for Friday
New Orleans Pelicans -9.5 adjusted spread over Detroit Pistons (+135)
The Pistons are on the league’s longest losing streak, having dropped their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been respectable over their last 10 (at least by their Western Conference last-place standards). They have a 4-6 record during this stretch and will be confident they can improve on that tonight. The Pistons will have a tough time containing Jonas Valanciunas, with the Pels’ center delivering a career year so far. He is currently putting up nearly 19 points and 12 rebounds a game and will have a size advantage over both Isaiah Stewart and Trey Lyles. Valanciunas should be able to dominate the paint. During their losing streak the Pistons have struggled to score, exceeding 110 points in regulation just once. This contest may not even be close.
Check out our Pistons vs Pelicans preview
Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder over 215.5 (-110)
The Lakers are playing the second leg of a back-to-back situation after giving up 108 points last night to a Memphis team that is without Ja Morant. Los Angeles lost that game to fall back to .500 and you can be sure LeBron James will come back out like a man on a mission against Oklahoma City. These teams have already faced each other twice this season and those games resulted in 238 and 211 points. It doesn’t take a math major to figure out the average is more than 217…and even more than 224, in fact! In both of the Thunder’s wins over the Lakers they got really good production from their best player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 27 and 28 points. Playing at the 2nd-fastest pace in the NBA has not done the Lakers’ defense any favors and they allow the 7th-most points on the road this season at 112.6 per game. The Lakers could be without Rajon Rondo, which means more minutes for Russell Westbrook at the point and in turn the Lakers playing faster than they normally do.
Check out our Lakers vs Thunder preview
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