As we enter into 2024 it’s time to take a closer look at the standings and decipher what exactly happened around the NBA over the first few months of the 2023-24 season. It’s also time to take a closer look at my betting strategy for NBA parlays since I’m coming off another losing week. There is a full slate of 14 games on Friday, January 5, to build a parlay around with some of the Association’s best in action. The Boston Celtics continue to hold down the NBA’s best record at the start of the calendar year with Minnesota still atop the Western Conference. Boston hosts the Utah Jazz on Friday and is a perfect 16-0 inside the Garden, though recent games have been a struggle. The Cs overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Detroit in overtime before nipping the Raptors by a bucket. The Wolves travel to Houston to start a four-game road trip.
With a cover rate of over 74 percent the Oklahoma City Thunder are the most profitable team in the Association. Theyre also close behind Minnesota at the top of the West standings. OKC won and covered its fifth straight taking down the Celtics 127-123 at home on Tuesday. The Thunder visit Brooklyn on Friday in rematch from their New Year’s Eve tilt that saw OKC cash out a 124-108 victory.
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NBA Schedule for Friday, January 5
Utah at Boston, 7 p.m. ET
Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET
Oklahoma City at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET
Washington at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. ET
New York at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Charlotte at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET
Minnesota at Houston, 8 p.m. ET
LA Clippers at New Orleans, 8 p.m. ET
Portland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET
Orlando at Denver, 9 p.m. ET
Miami at Phoenix, 9 p.m. ET
Detroit at Golden State, 10 p.m. ET
Memphis at LA Lakers, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Toronto at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET
NBA Parlay Picks for Friday, January 5, 2024
Utah ATS
Oklahoma City ATS
Atlanta / Indiana OVER
Memphis ATS
Bet $100 to win $1280
I thought I would change things up a little bit in hopes of having better luck at the betting window. There are plenty of good teams on the road so to increase my odds for a larger payout on a winning ticket I’m going with all road teams this week. I really like the way Utah is playing moving up the West standings to at least give the top 11 teams over there something to be concerned about. They just finished off a five-game road trip going 3-2 and beat Miami and Dallas at home giving them five win in six games. The Celtics failed to put weak teams away and given their gap in record Utah will be a significant dog making them easy to back.
The Thunder are for real and they’ve been a good bet all season. Not only do they have the best overall cover percentage they are tops on the road going 9-3-1 ATS while winning nine of their first 13 road contests. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into of the top scorers in the NBA and the collection of talent is bolstered by a healthy Chet Holmgren. They’re efficient on offense leading the NBA in three-point accuracy and fourth in scoring. And they just handled the Nets easily last week giving me confidence to back them again.
This pick only half involves a road team since I’m backing the OVER in the Atlanta-Indianapolis contest. After a brief lull including and following their IST loss to the Lakers, the Pacers are back to their scoring ways. The betting markets caught up with the UNDER cashing in five of their last six games. But both clubs consider defense optional and put up ridiculous numbers in Indy’s 157-152 win in Atlanta in November. It’s doubtful we see that kind of scoring but anything close makes me a winner.
I’ll cash my winning four-teamer when Memphis covers against the LA Lakers. Showing just how much they missed Ja Morant the Griz stumbled out of the gate. Upon his return they won four straight with Ja averaging nearly 30 points. He sat last week’s game in Denver and the Griz were steamrolled 142-105. With Ja on the floor I’m much more comfortable backing the Griz.
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