The NBA season is still just getting started, and we have a small but interesting slate on Thursday. There are only three games on the docket, the best of which is this showdown between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. Jimmy Butler won’t be playing here after turning his ankle against the Lakers, but there is still plenty of intrigue.
What better way to make this nationally televised showdown (ESPN) even more entertaining than by betting a same game parlay? We also of course have thoughts on the side and total for each of tonight’s mega matchups.
We’ve got a two-leg parlay here, one which pays out north of 12/1 with FanDuel Sportsbook. Let’s break it all down:
To start this same game parlay off we’ve got the Heat on an alternate spread. Miami lost a tough one to the Lakers in overtime their last time out, but I’m not holding it against them. Jimmy Butler turned his ankle at the end of the first quarter, and they weren’t prepared for his absence. Now here, they know going in they won’t have him and can plan accordingly. The Heat have lost back to back road games to the Lakers and Nuggets, but right before that they had beaten the Jazz and won six of seven. I’m not panicking about them.
On the flip side, I remain a skeptic of this Clippers team. Sure the Clips have won five in a row, but look at who they’ve played: the Thunder, the Timberwolves twice, the Hornets and the Blazers; not exactly a murderer’s row. Right before that soft stretch when the schedule was a bit tougher, they were 1-4.
This correlates nicely with the first leg of our same game parlay. Lowry is averaging four more points per game in wins than in losses this year. And Lowry is about to have a much bigger role on offense with Butler out. Butler hasn’t missed a single game this season, so there are suddenly a lot of shots to go around. He is averaging 23.6 points per game and has been taking more shots than last year, so Lowry will need to pick up at least some of the slack. Lowry scored 18 his last time out despite shooting only 2/10 from beyond the arc. If he attempts 10 threes again here I feel pretty good about him getting to 20. He scored at least 20 points in two of his four games prior to that one, as well.
Check out our guide on what is a same game parlay and where can I bet it?
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