Playoff races are heating up, and teams are fighting for their lives every single night. Tonight is no different, as several teams that are eyeing the postseason are in action.
Everyone is bringing their best at this time of the year, and we’re seeing what teams are truly made of. We’re also seeing certain teams that dominated for most of the season have their flaws exposed down the stretch. The Denver Nuggets are one of those teams, and they highlight today’s NBA parlay that features Western Conference playoff hopefuls.
NBA Parlay Leg #1: Denver Nuggets Money Line
The #1 seed in the Western Conference seems safe still, but the Denver Nuggets can’t feel comfortable amid their current three-game losing streak, only the second one they’ve endured all season. The Nuggets haven’t lost more than three straight games this season. However, their defense has been getting gashed lately, and Nikola Jokic’s triple-doubles haven’t been enough to win.
Their last win was over the Raptors on March 6, a game that was marred by a controversial (stupid and ridiculous also fit) ejection. Regardless, Toronto is also on a three-game losing streak that began that fateful night, and in danger of slipping out of the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot, as they’re only a game ahead of the 11th-place Wizards.
In a clash of struggling teams, I feel more comfortable siding with the squad that’s spent most of the season winning and has the reigning MVP. Expect the Nuggets to bounce back tonight.
NBA Parlay Leg #2: OKC Thunder -1.5
The Western Conference standings are a mosh pit right now, with spots 8-13 all within one game of each other. There is a three-way tie for the ninth spot, and the Thunder are one of those teams. Well, Oklahoma City has won five of their last six, and are back home where they’ve been much better this season. OKC’s home record is 20-15.
They’re facing a Brooklyn Nets team that they beat already in January, although Brooklyn looked slightly different back then. The Nets have also won five of six, but this is the final game of their five-game road trip, and travel usually catches up to teams eventually.
OKC has a better offensive rating and defensive rating than Brooklyn does this season, even if their record is worse. Expect them to look better at home tonight and earn a crucial win.
NBA Parlay Leg #3: Lakers @ Pelicans Under 226.0
The two other squads tied for ninth in the Western Conference are the Lakers and Pelicans, who face each other tonight. Both teams have been struggling offensively lately, especially with their two biggest stars injured.
Los Angeles is 24th in offensive rating this season, but 12th in defensive rating. In their nine games since the All-Star break, the under has hit six times, while the over has only hit twice. That they’ve played most of those games without LeBron James hasn’t helped the scoring at all, even if their new pieces have been performing well.
Meanwhile, New Orleans is 21st in offensive rating and eighth in defensive rating this season. They’ve been missing Zion Williamson since early January, which has derailed a season that began with a ton of promise. Since the All-Star break, the under has hit in seven of the Pelicans’ nine games. In those games, they’re only putting up 108.1 per game, well below their 114.9 mark before the break.
Expect this pivotal battle to be low-scoring.
