Ricky Dimon
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We have a 10-game slate on our hands in the NBA on Wednesday, and that is despite two postponements. The action includes a double-header on TNT, starting with the Houston Rockets vs. the Philadelphia 76ers and capped off by the Miami Heat’s visit to the Golden State Warriors. Also taking the court are the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Utah Jazz.
Here’s our five-team parlay for Wednesday:
Knicks -4.5 (-110)
Celtics ML (-110)
Trail Blazers ML (-110)
Thunder +7.5 (-110)
Jazz -5 (-110)
Parlay odds: +2535
For this play we mix in two favorites against the spread, one underdog and the points, and two outright winners (one favorite and one underdog). Let’s break down each of the five legs one by one.
New York Knicks -4.5 over Orlando Magic (-110)
The Magic are extremely banged up at the moment and it is becoming noticeable on the court. Their long injury list has grown in February, now including Cole Anthony and Aaron Gordon—who will both be unavailable against the Knicks. Evan Fournier, Al-Farouq Aminu, and James Ennis III are all questionable and neither seems likely to play. All of that is part of the reason why Orlando is 2-8 in its last 10 games. The Knicks have already taken care of the Magic once this season and they are currently riding a three-game winning streak. New York should have a clear edge in the point-guard department thanks to the rotation of Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose.
Boston Celtics ML over Atlanta Hawks (-150)
The Hawks are struggling to win or even cover right now, but we will go with the safe play and take the Celtics on the money line as opposed to giving the points—in part because Boston is on the second leg of a back-to-back situation. Atlanta is 1-7 straight up and 2-6 against the spread in its past eight outings. It is also 0-3 SU/ATS in its past three. De’Andre Hunter emerged as a rising star earlier this season, but he has been (and will remain) out for a while and the Hawks are struggling mightily without his services. Boston is great at home (8-3 ATS this season, 5-1 ATS in its last six). Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were both outstanding during a win over Denver on Tuesday and should keep it rolling.
Portland Trail Blazers ML over New Orleans Pelicans (+126)
Damian Lillard is having one of the least talked about MVP-caliber seasons in recent history. He is averaging almost 30 points per game and has the Trail Blazers well inside the playoff cut line despite having missed both C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic for an extended time. Portland has won seven of its last eight games, notably taking down the 76ers twice in the span of eight days during this stretch. Winning ways should continue with the Pelicans playing the second game of a back-to-back situation. Sure they clobbered Memphis on Tuesday, but only once this season have the Pels won two games in a row.
Oklahoma City Thunder +7.5 over Memphis Grizzlies (-110)
The Grizzlies will also be back in action on Wednesday, which does not give them much time to lick the wounds of Tuesday’s horrendous performance. They gave up 144 points to New Orleans, watching Zion Williamson go for 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting. Memphis has lost six of its last eight games and its losses have come by an average of more than 15 points. The Thunder are by no means playing well without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (he has missed the last four contests), but 7.5 points are a lot against an opponent like Memphis.
Utah Jazz -5 over Los Angeles Clippers (-110)
This should be one of everyone’s favorite plays of the day. The Jazz are the best team in the NBA right now, with a 24-5 record that includes a 19-1 mark in their last 20. Jordan Clarkson has been phenomenal and is a clear frontrunner for NBA Sixth Man of the Year. He is coming off a 40-point barrage against Philadelphia. At the same time, the Clippers could be significantly depleted. Paul George and Nicolas Batum are both out for tonight’s game and Kawhi Leonard is questionable. Either way, Utah should be able to win—and win big.
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