Ricky Dimon
NBA
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The NBA Playoffs continue on Friday with a pair of games on the schedule, one in the Eastern Conference and one in the West. The Phoenix Suns are in control against the Denver Nuggets with a healthy 2-0 lead, but it is all tied up at 1-1 in the East, and Game 3 between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks is an absolutely critical contest for each team.
Both showdowns are getting the same game parlay treatment they deserve. For now, let’s take a look at the best such option for 76ers-Hawks, and be sure to also check out our picks on the side and total for both matchups.
Philadelphia 76ers -1 (-108)
Seth Curry Over 2.5 three-pointers made (-104)
Joel Embiid Under 30.5 points (-116)
Trae Young Over 9.5 assists (-110)
Parlay odds: +1115
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is much of the plan here, as productive performances by Seth Curry and Ben Simmons would obviously go a long way toward a Philadelphia win. At the same time, plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay. That is the case with tipping Trae Young to score his fair share of points. But even Young does put up a lot, there is no reason why the 76ers can’t take care of business.
Philadelphia 76ers -1 (-108)
Since taking a 97-75 lead late in the third quarter of Game 1, Philadelphia has outscored Atlanta 167-133. That represents five mostly dominant quarters of basketball (aside from a brief hiccup in Game 2) by the 76ers, which includes a 118-102 series-tying victory on Tuesday. Joel Embiid, who was listed as questionable for each of the first two games but is clearly fine, has been unstoppable. Embiid is averaging 39.5 ppg on 25-for-46 shooting so far in this series. As for Atlanta’s injury situation, it is much less positive. De’Andre Hunter missed the first two games and has now been ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs, forced to undergo meniscus surgery.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Philadelphia 76ers vs. Atlanta Hawks.
Seth Curry Over 14.5 points (-106)
There are actually two players on the Sixers for whom the Hawks have had no answer. Embiid is getting a ton of help from Curry, who is averaging 21.0 ppg on 15-for-25 shooting (10-for-15 from three-point range). With the Hawks missing Hunter, Curry should continue to thrive. Hunter is Atlanta’s best defensive player other than Clint Capela and he can guard four positions on the floor. He wouldn’t have been able to help on Embiid, but he would have been huge in an attempt to contain the former Duke sharpshooter.
Ben Simmons Over 7.5 assists (-112)
With Embiid, Curry, and Tobias Harris providing plenty of points, Simmons has not been required to do much in that department. In fact, the former No. 1 overall pick attempted just seven shots in the opener (made all seven) and a mere three in Game 2. His distribution game, however, has been a much different story. Simmons dished out 10 assists in Game 1 and followed that up with a seven-assist performance. If things had been more competitive in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Simmons probably would have finished with more.
Trae Young Over 27.5 points (-108)
Young forked up 23 shots in the series opener (nobody else on the Hawks other than Bogdan Bogdanovic was in double-digits) and scored 35 points. The star point guard could not throw it in the ocean on Tuesday (6-for-16 overall, 1-for-7 from three-point land) and still finished with a respectable 21. It won’t take a whole lot more to get to 28, although a whole lot more may be what we get from Young. Coming off a loss and returning home, Atlanta’s best player will show some urgency and treat a raucous crowd to a big performance.
Make sure you also check out our same game parlay for Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets (+1309 odds!)
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