Ricky Dimon
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A double-header on TNT headlines a six-game NBA slate on Tuesday night. It begins with a showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets before the Boston Celtics pay a visit to the Golden State Warriors. Also in action are the Utah Jazz, who still have to be considered the hottest team in basketball despite their recent loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Here’s our five-team parlay for Tuesday:
Raptors -6 (-110)
Clippers ML (+110)
Wizards -2 (-110)
Jazz -12.5 (-110)
Celtics -2.5 (-110)
Parlay odds: +2637
For this parlay we have four favorites against the spread and one underdog money line winner. Let’s break down each of the five legs one by one.
Toronto Raptors -6 over Detroit Pistons (-110)
These teams just met on Sunday and Toronto won without any trouble. That is not too much of a surprise even though it was without Norman Powell and OG Anunoby, who are also questionable for this one. Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 30 points as he remains committed to getting inside for easier buckets. Toronto rolled even though Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet combined for just 21 points. That is not a good sign for the Magic, who will be without Aaron Gordon after he left Sunday’s loss with an injury. Orlando has lost nine of its last 11 games and it will probably be 10 of 12 after tonight.
Los Angeles Clippers ML over Brooklyn Nets (+110)
The Clippers are rolling, having won nine of their last 10 contests. They have also covered seven of their last nine and have done so by an average of almost 10 points. As for the Nets, they have been about what you expect since acquiring James Harden. Overall, they are not yet a well-oiled machine. They are on a record pace offensively but they are also on a record pace in terms of defensive futility. Brooklyn simply can’t stop anyone, and that certainly does not bode well for having to go up against a team like the Clippers.
Washington Wizards -2 over Portland Trail Blazers (-110)
The Trail Blazers are playing the second game of a back-to-back situation and to say the first leg did not go well would be a gross understatement. They lost to Milwaukee by 32 points, and even Damian Lillard struggled (17 points). Portland is reeling big-time without second-leading scorer C.J. McCollum. Although Washington cannot be confused with being a difficult opponent, it finally has some semblance of momentum. The Wizards are coming off a wild win over Brooklyn in which they hit two three-pointers in the final seconds to erase a five-point deficit. Russell Westbrook finished with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in a 149-146 victory.
Utah Jazz -12.5 over Detroit Pistons (-110)
The Pistons are not playing the second leg of a back-to-back situation here because Monday’s date with Denver was postponed because of Covid protocols. So this Detroit team shouldn’t be tired at all. Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends. Facing the Jazz has been a disaster for basically everyone of late, and the Pistons are unlikely to be an exception. Utah owns the second-best record in the NBA at 15-5 (a half-game behind the Clippers) and had won—and covered—11 in a row before falling to Denver on Sunday. The Jazz are 8-2 at home (only Philadelphia is better in that department). Donovan Mitchell is getting a ton of help from Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Jordan Clarkson on this well-rounded, fundamentally-sound squad.
Boston Celtics -2.5 over Golden State Warriors (-110)
Boston has played Golden state quite well lately, winning the last three meetings—including the last two at Golden State. The Celtics are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings overall. Although the Warriors have won three of their last four games, those wins have come against sub-par teams in the Timberwolves (twice) and Pistons. Stephen Curry (with some help from Andrew Wiggins) makes for a dangerous offense, but the Dubs don’t play much defense whatsoever. Look for a far more talented Boston team to win and cover.
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