Ricky Dimon
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In addition to a matinee double-header on NBATV, we also have a primetime showdown on ESPN between the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans. It is this contest that is the nightcap of a nine-game slate in the NBA on Sunday. Let’s take a look at the best same game parlay option for Clippers-Pelicans, and be sure to check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Clippers -9.5 alternate spread (+134)
Kawhi Leonard to make 3+ three-pointers (+128)
Zion Williamson to score 30+ points (+186)
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. We feel good about the Clippers’ chances to win big on Sunday, and Kawhi Leonard dialing long distance at least a few times would obviously go a long way in that effort. At the same time, however, plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay. That’s the case with predicting a big game for Zion Williamson, but even if the former No. 1 overall pick delivers a lot of points L.A. should still be able to take care of business.
Clippers -9.5 alternate spread (+134)
The Clippers stormed out of the all-star break with a 130-104 win over the Warriors on Thursday. All season long, the Clippers offensive scheme has been counterintuitive (and self-limiting) because they are the best three-point shooting team in the NBA, but have attempted only the 17th-most attempts from beyond the arc in the league. Against Golden State they unsurprisingly continued to shoot well from long range at 43.9 percent, but they finally shot there more frequently—hoisting 41 attempts from the land of plenty. A similar kind of attack would be bad news for the Pelicans, who brought in head coach Stan Van Gundy to improve their defense but have actually regressed significantly across the board in nearly all major defensive metrics (especially against the three-ball). New Orleans is 1-1 since the break, with a blowout of Cleveland but a disastrous 20-point loss to lowly Minnesota.
Kawhi Leonard to make 3+ three-pointers (+128)
Leonard made only two threes in Los Angeles’ previous victory over New Orleans this season, but he attempted just four triples. Recently he has been forking up shots from long range with a lot more alacrity, and for the most part he has been doing so with success. Leonard is 7-for-14 on three-pointers over the past two contests, and in February he turned in two performances with five treys. You can expect one of his best shooting efforts to come against the Pelicans, who are dead last in the league in three-pointers allowed per game and third-to-last in opponents’ three-point percentage.
Zion Williamson to score 30+ points (+186)
Williamson missed the first head-to-head meeting of 2020-21, all the more reason why he will be licking his chops in anticipation of this one. The Clippers are in the bottom 10 of the association in points in the paint allowed per game, whereas they are sixth-best in three-pointers allowed and eighth-best in opponents’ three-point percentage. Needless to say, this is the kind of matchup in which the Pels will want to feature Williamson on offense as much as possible. He has scored at least 23 points in an incredible 13 of the past 14 outings, including more than 30 on five of those occasions.
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