NBA Parlays for Friday: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets, Hawks vs. Celtics, and More
NBA Parlays for Friday: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets, Hawks vs. Celtics, and More
Friday's NBA Parlay
- Los Angeles Lakers +9 (Hornets vs Lakers Odds)
- New Orleans Pelicans +11 (Pelicans vs Nuggets Odds)
- Houston Rockets +8 (Rockets vs Trail Blazers Odds)
NBA Parlay Odds: +237: (Bet $100 to Win $237)
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NBA Parlay Breakdown
It's bizarre to check the odds and then see the Los Angeles Lakers as the underdogs for a game against the Charlotte Hornets, but perhaps that's indicative of the crazy season we're watching unfold. The Lakers haven't released their injury report at the time of writing, but considering Gordon Hayward is out, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is questionable, you would have to think LeBron James and co. are coming into tonight's game short-handed. Or maybe, the Lakers have been so inconsistent, that Vegas has lost faith in them? After all, for all the fanfare surrounding their roster heading into the season, the Lakers are 24-25 with the 24th ranked offense and 17th ranked defense - things haven't gone according to plan. Meanwhile, the Hornets have quietly put together a 27-22 record and hold the 4th ranked offense in the NBA, but are longing for success on the defensive end. It makes sense then, that the Lakers are expected to lose tonight. Both teams are equally bad on the defensive end, but the Hornets are the superior team when it comes to scoring the rock, and to be clear, that's incredibly important. Of course, it's always tough to root against a LeBron James-led team, and the Hornets margin for error will be minuscule, which is why we're giving the Lakers a +9 spread, because we have to allow for the possibility of them turning up and grinding out a win - however unlikely some may view that to be.
Our next game is less peculiar, as we would expect the Denver Nuggets to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, even with all of Denver's injury issues. The fact remains that the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, who is once again putting up MVP-caliber numbers, and continues to produce mind-boggling moments of magic. While the Pelicans, who in fairness look to be improving, have been disappointing in the absence of Zion Williamson - who we all expected to be back on the floor by now. Furthermore, Brandon Ingram is currently on the Pelicans injury report and is listed as questionable for tonight's game, and they will need him if they have any hopes of causing an upset, the same can also be said of Josh Hart. And we can't forget the injury-forced absences of Kira Lewis Jr. and Trey Murphy III who started the season looking mightly impressive. When looking at the Pelicans season statistics, a lot is left to be desired, with the team sitting 26th in offensive rating and 24th in defense, while Denver sits in the middle of the pack at 12th and 14th respectively. The Nuggets have the superior roster, a more experienced head coach, and are in better form than the Pelicans, so we can be confident of the correct result coming to pass. Yet, as always, I like to hedge our bets, because profit is the aim of the game, meaning I will be backing the Pelicans on a +11-spread, just in case the Nuggets lay a goose egg.
Finally, we've got the Portland Trail Blazers facing off against the Houston Rockets, in a battle between two Western Conference strugglers, the only difference being, the Rockets were meant to struggle this year. The Trail Blazers injury report continues to read like a novel, with Robert Covington listed as questionable, CJ Elleby as doubtful, and Damian Lillard, Nassir Little, Larry Nance Jr, and Cody Zeller all out for tonight's game. While the Rockets will navigate the contest without Usman Garuba. Both teams are disappointing defensively, with the Rockets sitting 30th and the Trail Blazers at 28th, but Portland's 14th ranked offense could see them through. Yet, it's worth noting that in the last two weeks, Portland's offense has been horrendous, and sits 24th in the NBA, which puts them in the same territory as the Rockets. Personally, I still think the Trail Blazers will win tonight's game, they have the better roster, and Jusuf Nurkic could have a field day with such lackadaisical defensive coverage, but I expect the game to be close. A +8-point spread should get the job done for Houston, as long as they bring their A-Game, which isn't always guaranteed.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Same-Game Parlay
- Boston Celtics +8
- Jayson Tatum Over 26.5 Points
- Jayson Tatum Over 3.5 Assists
- Odds: +275
Click Here for Hawks vs Celtics Odds
The Boston Celtics have won their last two games with ease, courtesy of Jayson Tatum beginning his mid-season explosion a few games earlier than normal, and we're expecting that to continue tonight by backing him to drop 27 or more points. Similar can be said about Tatum's playmaking, with the All-Star wing currently leading the way for Boston as their best offensive creator. However, the Celtics have burned us in recent weeks, and often fall short against opposition with a similar level of talent, and that's precisely what worries me in tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks. All eyes will be on how Robert Williams deals with Clint Capela, as Celtics fans will use this match-up as a great measuring stick of the impressive big man's development, while the rest of the world will be keen to see if the Celtics have truly turned a corner in their stop-start season. At the time of writing the Hawks haven't released their injury report, but assuming they're healthy, this game will be a good contrast of styles. The Hawks currently boast the 2nd best offense in the NBA and have stayed within the top-5 over their last two weeks of games, but the Celtics have based their "success" around defense, with the team sitting 4th for the season. This contest will be a great battle between the immovable object and the irresistible force. While my heart is telling me to trust the Celtics and back them winning their third straight game, my gut is pulling me towards the Hawks, who have won 5 of their last 7 contests. As such, a +8-point spread seems like a good compromise for me, and when doubled with our player props, gives us a good chance at a tidy profit heading into the weekend.
Hawks vs. Celtics Line Movement
Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Clippers Same-Game Parlay
- Clippers +12.5
- Terance Mann Under 1.5 Threes
- Ivica Zubac Over 8.5 Points
- Odds: +285
Click Here for Heat vs Clippers Odds
Neither the Miami Heat nor the Los Angeles Clippers enter tonight's game at full strength, but it's the Clippers who are worse off. Miami is without Kyle Lowry, Markieff Morris, and Victor Oladipo, while Jimmy Butler is questionable to start the day. But the Clippers are missing Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Marcus Morris Sr - which means they have more depth on their bench, but their best three players will be watching from the sidelines. I do think that Ivica Zubac could be a big difference-maker for the Clippers, and expect the Heat to struggle against his size in the post and on the pick-and-roll. But, the Heat have the superior bench unit with guys like Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Max Strus to lean on, along with Bam Adebayo initiating the offense. Miami, like the Clippers, has been dealing with some of these injury issues for a few weeks now, but have still managed to win 5 of their last 7 games - further strengthening the point about quality depth, while the Clippers have proven to be a feisty bunch who claw and fight on every possession, winning 4 of their last 7. However, I do think the Clippers have been constructed to accentuate their two stars, while the Heat have been built on a depth of talent, which is why I consider the Heat favorites heading into tonight's game, and have the Clippers needing a +12.5-point spread to remain competitive.