It’s been a few weeks off from the Thursday parlays, but we’re back with two NBA picks tonight.
If you haven’t heard, we are expanding our Thursday
parlay to include Sunday NBA matchups now as well. However, this edition will
cover two great primetime games this evening. Let’s parlay our two NBA picks together to maximum payout.
Our
first game of the night, features a rematch of last years’ NBA Finals, with the
Dallas Mavericks heading into Miami to face off against the Heat. The NBA betting spread
favors the Miami Heat by -8 tonight.
The late
game of the evening is just as inviting, as the Oklahoma City Thunder roll into
Hollywood to meet up with a rejuvenated Lakers team. This spread is much closer
to even, as some NBA odds boards list this as a pick em’ game, but most have the
Lakers favored by -1.
Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat
These
two teams are meeting for the first time since Christmas Day, where the Heat
were able to get a small amount of revenge from the finals, winning 105-94.
That was in Dallas, where the spread favored the Heat by -4.5 on the road, and
now they are favored almost double that at home.
The
latest drama surrounding the Heat is two fold. Firstly, the Heat have lost two
straight games by double figures. Their first was to the Thunder, followed by
the Pacers this past Monday. The Heat have had a couple days off since the loss
against the Pacers, and need it. One of the Big Three is banged up, and the Heat are trying to hold on to their position in the Eastern Conference.
Lebron
James has been struggling recently, and to top it off, is suffering from a few
different injuries. Even though I don’t put much stock in his struggles, I do
put a lot on his various injuries, the most recent being a dislocated finger on
his non-shooting hand. Although it has been stated by James that he will play
and will not miss any time, it is crucial that we all check the status of James
after the Heat’s morning shoot around, and prior to the game.
Although
he has said he would play, I like to note what the Bulls have done this season
with Derrick Rose and his injuries. If the Heat want to play this smart with
less then 20 games left in the season, they might decide to sit James down and
give him some extra rest to improve his injury situation.
Even if
this happens or doesn’t happen, I still think the Mavericks have a good shot at
getting a cover here. The Heat’s play lately, (especially of James and Chris
Bosh) is not enough to warrant them covering eight points in this game. The
bounce back game is coming for Miami, but it won’t happen tonight.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los
Angeles Lakers
The late
game for me has even more glamour and implications for the Western Conference.
This is yet another battle between the new and old favorites in the West, and
should be a classic between Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant battle.
Earlier
in the season, the Thunder hosted Los Angeles, and handled them quite easily
100-85, and cashed as -7.5 favorites. The game being in LA is a factor, but
even though the Lakers are a different team right now, they haven’t been
covering with Ramon Sessions leading the offense.
Another
great storyline heading into tonight’s game is the quick return of Derek Fisher
back to Los Angeles, now a member of the Thunder. If you don’t think that will
play a small factor in tonight’s game, you’re crazy. Fisher would love nothing
more then to hit a big shot to bury the Lakers tonight.
The
Thunder have won their last two meetings with the Lakers, and have also won
four straight games overall, all of which OKC scored over 100 points. Although
LA is a good defensive team, it’s still hard to stop Russell Westbrook and
Kevin Durant. It won’t happen tonight, and the Thunder will take the road win.
The Sharp Parlay
Mavericks
+8 parlayed with Thunder +1
1.5 unit bet to payout 4.0 units