Filip Tomic
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There are only 4 games on the NBA schedule this Thursday, but we still have an NBA TV doubleheader coming our way. It starts with the Knicks and Magic at 7:00 pm ET and I’ve prepared a Same Game Parlay which you can see below.
In the last 2 days we’re 12-4 on our NBA ATS/ML picks, so be sure to head over to our NBA predictions for tonight’s bets!
Let’s jump into my SGP bet now.
New York Knicks -3.5 (-110)
Jalen Brunson to score 30+ points (+260)
Paolo Banchero to score 20+ points (-125)
Parlay odds: +996
New York Knicks -3.5 (-110)
The Knicks have hit a bit of a rough patch, losing their last 2 games against Miami and Minnesota with their defense struggling to get stops. Things should return back to normal against the Magic as New York has beaten them in both games this season, including the last one in Orlando, which the Knicks won 102-98 in early February. The Knicks have one of the better road records in the NBA this season at 22-15 SU, while also covering the spread 24 times in 37 games. They’ve dominated the matchup against the young and inexperienced Magic, winning 5 of the last 7 games, and a win here would ease the pressure in the standings as the Nets and Heat are just 2 games behind them. Orlando is pretty much guaranteed to finish 13th in the East and the play-in tournament is still 4.5 games away with just 9 left to play. It has been a developmental year for the Magic, so winning 30 games isn’t all that bad of a year. They’ve won just 3 of their last 9, and against teams from the Atlantic Division they’re just 6-13 SU in their last 19. I’m going with the Knicks.
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Jalen Brunson to score 30+ points (+260)
Jalen Brunson’s foot injury seems to be behind him as he’s scored 24, 23 and 25 points in 3 games since returning to the lineup. However, that’s a little way off the guy we saw win Player of the Month in February while dropping 27.3 points per game. We need to see him returning to that level and the game against the Magic is an ideal opportunity. He has the experience advantage and Orlando’s defense simply doesn’t have the capacity to contain him. He has gone over 20 points in both meetings against them this season, scoring 25 the last time he played at Amway Center. Orlando is average at best when defending the perimeter in home games, allowing 35.5% of shots. In 2 of their last 3 games they allowed 30+ points from an opposing shooting guard as Paul George dropped 30 and Austin Reaves had 35. Brunson is just as good if not better than that pair and he should be able to get 30 points.
Paolo Banchero to score 20+ points (-125)
With the Rookie of the Year award in the bag, Paolo Banchero can play the remaining 9 games of the season without much pressure. That’s a really solid confidence-booster for a young player who has shown great potential this year and the Magic star has a bright future. Over the last 10 games he has dropped an average of 21.6 points per game, clearing the 20-point line 6 times. He also has a game of 21 points against the Knicks this season and with New York’s defense allowing 127 and 140 points in their last 2 games, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities. In just their last 3 games the Knicks have allowed 49.4% of opponent threes, so even a guy like Banchero, who is shooting just 28.2% from downtown, should be able to knock down a couple of shots. I’ll back the rookie to lead the Magic in scoring with at least 20 points.
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