Ricky Dimon
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We have a trio of NBA playoff Game 3s on Friday night, when the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks will break a 1-1 tie. Meanwhile, it’s pretty much do-or-die time for the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics. Los Angeles trails the Dallas Mavericks 2-0, while Boston is in the same hole against the Brooklyn Nets. Let’s take a look at the best same game parlay option for Clippers-Mavericks, and be sure to also check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Los Angeles Clippers -2.5 (-110)
Kawhi Leonard over 30.5 points (-108)
Marcus Morris to score 15+ points (+164)
Tim Hardaway Jr over 2.5 three-pointers made (-156)
Parlay odds: +1223
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is some of the plan here, as productive performances by Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Morris would obviously go a long way toward a Los Angeles win and cover. At the same time, plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay. That is the case with tipping Tim Hardaway Jr to drain his fair share of three-pointers. But even if Hardaway Jr does that, there is no reason why the Clippers can’t get the job done.
Los Angeles Clippers -2.5 (-110)
The Clippers will trail 3-0 of they lose this one; it’s a situation from which no NBA team has ever come back to win and advance. If there is any good news for a team that now has to go on the road with its back against the wall, it’s that the Game 2 performance was an improvement from Game 1. Kawhi Leonard in particular kept LA competitive with 41 points. Rajon Rondo has been effective off the bench and should be rewarded with more minutes, which should be an overall boost for Los Angeles. The Clippers also did a better job against Luka Doncic in the second outing. Dallas’ star guard saw his assist numbers decrease while turning the ball over seven times. The Clippers have to get a W … and they should.
Kawhi Leonard over 30.5 points (-108)
Even in Game 2 the Clippers probably felt like they were facing a must-win situation, although they would never say it. Leonard tried to take matters into his own hands as a result and scored his 41 points on 14-for-21 shooting. He attempted ten free-throws, making nine. Now the pressure is on even more, and you can be sure that Leonard will want the ball in his hands as often as possible. It should also be noted that Leonard logged 41 minutes in each of the first two contests. That isn’t about to change with LA facing its biggest game of the year.
Marcus Morris to score 15+ points (+164)
Morris has scored only 13 total points through two games, but those were clearly aberrations as opposed to the rule. The veteran forward averaged 13.4 ppg during the regular season and in the last 15 regular-season contents he reached a double-figure score on 12 occasions. Ten of those 12 featured at least 15 points. Morris contributed double figures in the points department both times he faced Dallas during the 72-game campaign. Asking him to score 15 on Friday when his team really needs him to step up is not too much.
Tim Hardaway Jr over 2.5 three-pointers made (-156)
The Clippers have not defended the three-point line well in this series. Dallas went 17-for-36 from the land of plenty in Game 1 and then produced an 18-for-34 effort on Tuesday. Hardaway Jr has been a big reason for his team’s overall success from deep. He sank five of nine such attempts in the series opener before going 6-for-8 in Game 2. During regular-season action earlier this month, THJ successfully dialed long distance seven times at Cleveland’s expense and ten times against Miami.
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