Ricky Dimon
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A seven-game slate in the NBA on Saturday features a nightcap on ABC between the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks. Other teams in action include the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets.
Here’s our five-team parlay for Saturday:
Cavaliers +10.5 (-110)
Wizards ML (-185)
Jazz -10.5 (-110)
Nuggets ML (-290)
Nets -4 (-110)
Parlay odds: +1390
For this play we mix in two favorites against the spread, one underdog and the points, and a pair of outright winners. Let’s break down each of the five legs one by one.
Cleveland Cavaliers +10.5 over Philadelphia 76ers (-110)
The Cavaliers are finally back to some winning ways and have beaten the Hawks and Rockets in consecutive games. In the win over Houston, it was Jarrett Allen who led the way with 26 point and 18 rebounds. All five starters scored in double-figures. Cleveland is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 head-to-head meetings with Philadelphia, including 5-1 ATS on the road. Sixers guard Tobias Harris (20.7 ppg) has been ruled out of this game with a right-knee injury. In the last three contests, Joel Embiid is shooting worse than 30 percent from the field.
Washington Wizards ML over Minnesota Timberwolves (-165)
Minnesota enters this game on a six-game losing streak. The Timberwolves have won only once in their last 10 outings despite having Karl-Anthony Towns at their disposal. Towns has scored at least 20 points in four of his last five, but the Wolves’ defense was once again horrible on Wednesday–allowing the Bulls to shoot 59 percent in a 133-126 overtime loss. To make matters worse, they will be without Malik Beasley (20.5 ppg) for the next 12 games due to suspension. Momentum is definitely on the Wizards’ side, as they head into this one on the heels of seven wins in their last 10 games. Bradley Beal is averaging 32.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Russell Westbrook is averaging 19.9 ppg and 9.7 apg.
Utah Jazz -10.5 over Orlando Magic (-110)
Nikola Vucevic has been keeping the Magic afloat this season and earning an all-star berth in the process. However, Saturday will be a difficult matchup for him against Rudy Gobert—one of the best defensive players in the league. Vucevic has never scored more than 22 points against Gobert and the Jazz, and if he struggles to surpass that number tonight the Magic will have a tough time keeping pace with the best team in basketball. Utah is playing its second game of a back-to-back situation, but it has managed to win four of five games this season in which it has zero days of rest. Over the last week, super sixth man Jordan Clarkson is averaging 17 points per game.
Denver Nuggets ML over Oklahoma City Thunder (-290)
Denver is struggling with its depth due to injuries but its stars are looking great, as usual. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are in stellar form and will likely provide matchup problems for Oklahoma City. The Thunder do not have anyone who can really defend Jokic; not many teams do! It doesn’t help that OKC struggles at home. It is 5-10 SU at home and 5-9 ATS as a home underdog.
Brooklyn Nets -4 over Dallas Mavericks (-110)
The Nets have won eight games in a row heading into Saturday’s date with Dallas. Because the Nets are still without Kevin Durant and the Mavericks are expected to get Kristaps Porzingis back for this one, the Nets are giving only four points. And that presents a major opportunity to get all over Brooklyn. Head coach Steve Nash’s team is not only winning, but also winning big. Every single victory during this surge has come by at least four points–including five by double-digits (and another by nine points). The Nets are coming off a 129-92 humiliation of Orlando on Thursday, during which they outscored the Magic 105-64 over the final 36 minutes. Pozingis has not played since Feb. 14 due to back tightness, so he may be rusty and/or less than 100 percent.
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