NBA picks and parlays for Aug 23: Handicapping the closeout game
The NBA playoffs keep rolling right along. Some teams are falling flat and other teams are rising to the occasion. Many teams, like Portland and Dallas, are dealing with injuries and that leaves the outcome for many of the playoff games up in the air. The latest news and notes have to be on your radar if you want to win making NBA picks and parlays for Aug 23.
The pulse of the public
After loving the Denver Nuggets in the first few games, the public has had a change of heart. The Utah Jazz has demolished the Nuggets in back-to-back games and that is enough to get over 68% o0f the early bets on the Jazz. The public is also on the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics as both teams have dominated this far in the NBA playoffs.
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Daily NBA Picks
Let’s get to our best bets for today in the NBA. All point-spreads are taken from our top sportsbooks.
Sixers vs Celtics UNDER 213 [BET NOW]
My buddy has been betting the Sixers this series and he is getting gut-punched. This team has given up and they can’t wait for this series to end. They put in a valiant effort last game, but they fell just short of winning (and covering the spread). They are down 3-0 and the Sixers realize it’s the end of the road. The Celtics are getting contributions from everyone on the floor. The under is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 playoff games as a favorite and it has hit in 6 of the last 7 games in this series. The Celtics will win in blowout fashion and this game will go under the total.
Nets +13 [BET NOW]
Say what you want about this Nets team, but they are scrappy. This team could have folded (like the Sixers) but they continue to play hard. This is a team without three of the top players on the roster and maybe in the league. It would have been easy to get swept and go home. They are not going to win this series but they are going to continue to play hard. When the Nets are winning big they have a tendency to lay off and allow runs by their opponent. Want proof? The Raptors are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points. The Raptors never trailed in the last game and many of their players had stand out performances. It may look ugly, but the Nets are the play in this game.
Daily NBA Parlay
The parlay section of our daily article has been the most profitable so the pressure is on, but I am ready with two solid picks. Unlike my other colleagues, I am going to take a side in my parlay.
Two team parlay:
Dallas Mavericks +9 [BET NOW]
The world is watching the Luka Doncic injury. He has a sprained ankle and the MRI has yet to reveal anything, but that gives Mavericks backers value now! The Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and the Mavericks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game. If Luka plays you get a big inflated point-spread that has been pumped up based on the injury news. If he doesn’t play you are betting on a coaching staff that is very good and will have this team ready to play. Many times when a big player is out for a game that has a big point production, the rest of the team responds. (See the Celtics in game two without Gordon Hayward.) A healthy Kristaps Porzingis can get the job done, bet the Mavs.
Nuggets / Jazz under 215.5 [BET NOW]
Okay, I have to put one betting total in the parlay or they may not let me back. The public (see above) believes they have this series figured out. The Nuggets don’t play defense and the Jazz win. Don’t you think the Nuggets know this? The total has been bumped up which is a huge error. I realize that Mike Conley is back but he hit a career playoff-high with 3-pointers in the last game and he cannot do that again. The under is 11-5 in Jazz last 16 against a team with a winning straight up record and this game goes under.
Here is the winning parlay for tonight: