Ricky Dimon
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We have a small five-game NBA slate on our hands for Saturday, but it still presents more than enough options for nice parlay. The action includes one nationally televised game, a rematch of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. That is our upset of the day in this quartet of plays.
Here’s our four-team parlay for Saturday:
Heat ML (+140)
Kings -2.5 (-110)
Suns -4 (-110)
Trail Blazers ML (-180)
Parlay odds: +1278
For this play we mix in two favorites against the spread and two outright winners (one favorite and one underdog). Let’s break down each of the four legs one by one.
Miami Heat ML over Los Angeles Lakers (+140)
The Heat are back on the winning track after mercifully halting a three-game losing streak with a 118-110 victory over the Kings on Thursday. Jimmy Butler delivered a third consecutive triple-double, Tyler Herro scored 27 points in a reserve role, and Miami shot 51.6 percent from the floor as a team. Obviously the Lakers are more of a challenge than the Kings, but the Heat have some momentum now and they will be further energized by getting another shot at the team that beat them in the NBA Finals last season. And with Anthony Davis currently sidelined, L.A. looks a lot different than it did in the Orlando bubble. The Heat have covered in four of the last five head-to-head meetings; they might cover and win outright in this one.
Sacramento Kings -2.5 over Chicago Bulls (-110)
The Kings have lost five games in a row, but all of those came at home and now they are hitting the road. Needless to say, that will likely be a good thing. And getting the Bulls on the second leg of a back-to-back situation is an even better thing. Chicago, which lost to Philadelphia on Friday, is without Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter. This club is 0-2 OU in the second games of back-to-backs this season. Keep an eye on the status of Sacramento duo Harrison Barnes and Richaun Holmes (both are questionable), but either way the Kings can cover against a weak opponent.
Phoenix Suns -4 over Memphis Grizzlies (-110)
The Suns are starting to look like the team that we saw in the bubble, where they famously went undefeated. Had they not completely collapsed against the Nets in the second half earlier this week, they would be riding an eight-game winning streak. They should be in a good position to build on Friday’s victory over New Orleans, as Chris Paul is clicking for his new team. He just dished out 19 assists against the Pelicans, and backcourt mate Devin Booker has picked his level of play across the board in February compared to January. The Grizzlies have been in inconsistent form lately, winning just four of their last 10 games and they have a losing record at home on the season (6-8). Dillion Brooks missed Friday’s defeat of lowly Detroit and is questionable for this one.
Portland Trail Blazers ML over Washington Wizards (-180)
From out of nowhere, Washington is on a three-game winning streak and is 4-2 ATS in its last six games. However, the Trail Blazers may present a tougher test than the Wizards’ recent opponents. Portland is 4-0 SU in the last four head-to-head matchups. The Blazers are also in fine form right now, having adjusted to life without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. They have won six in a row and eight of their last nine. Damian Lillard continues to play arguably the best basketball of his career, but despite that he got snubbed from starting in the All-Star Game. Look for him to continue playing with a chip on his shoulder and victimize the Wizards.
Pickswise is the home of free NBA picks and predictions. We will cover all the big offseason news before making picks for every game during the 2021 season.
