Top NBA Parlay Picks for Thursday

Remember when a Lakers-Clippers game was must-see TV? Not so much on Thursday night without LeBron, Kawhi and PG13, but we have an opinion on it among our top NBA parlay picks.

There are six games on Thursday's NBA schedule. The Lakers and Clippers will close the night in a Los Angeles showdown at Crypto.com arena, but there's plenty of intrigue around the earlier matchups, as well. Three road teams are favored on the night, including two we're targeting with our NBA parlay picks.

Here are our top NBA parlay picks for Thursday (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Thursday's NBA Parlay Picks

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons +7 (-110) ? ? ?Phoenix Suns (-165) vs. Atlanta Hawks ? ? ?Los Angeles Clippers (-150) vs. Los Angeles Lakers ? ? ?

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NBA Parlay Predictions

Pistons +7 (-110)

I rarely play spread picks in NBA parlays as getting a game right against the spread is tricky enough, much less as part of a multi-leg parlay. However, I do like Detroit getting this many points at home as it feels like a bit of a letdown game for Minnesota after back-to-back home blowouts of Western Conference contenders in the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets. I also expect that T-Wolves third-leading scorer D’Angelo Russell (18.8 points per game) will miss a fourth straight game due to a leg injury. Starting point guard Patrick Beverley, a terrific defender, is also in question due to an ankle problem.

Rookie No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham (15.8 PPG) is listed as questionable for the Pistons but is expected to play. The Pistons recently got a few reinforcements back from injury in leading scorer Jerami Grant (20.0 PPG) and center Kelly Olynyk (11.8 PPG). Thanks in part to Olynyk, Detroit ranks third in the NBA in bench scoring at 38.7 PPG. At home, the Pistons have pulled numerous upsets this year and are competitive pretty much every night – they are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games. Just don’t bet the Pistons on the road. 

Minnesota dropped three of its last four away games straight up and failed to cover its last seven on the road.

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Suns (-165)

I would give this five stars on Phoenix if I knew for sure whether Hawks point guard Trae Young (shoulder), voted an All-Star starter, was going to sit. Young missed Monday’s 106-100 home loss to the Toronto Raptors as Atlanta’s seven-game winning streak ended. His backup, Delon Wright, made one more shot in seven attempts than I did on Monday.

Young is officially being called a game-time decision but wasn’t able to practice on Wednesday, so that’s not a good sign for his availability. He is averaging 27.7 points (fourth in NBA) and 9.3 assists (third). Young is also one of the NBA’s best free-throw shooters, and in a potentially close game that’s obviously a big factor.

Phoenix is on an NBA-high 11-game win streak, its second double-digit win streak of the season. Guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker should be named All-Star reserves before the game. Phoenix is listing starters Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder as probable but there’s no reason they shouldn’t play after both returned from injuries on Tuesday. 

The Suns have been the NBA's best road team at 19-4. Even if Young plays, I’m comfortable that Phoenix wins. It's best to buy early, as the odds on Phoenix will drop considerably if Young is ultimately ruled out.

Clippers (-150)

When making picks early, we have to guesstimate on which players might sit out. We know LeBron James and Paul George aren’t playing.

I happen to think the Lakers may rest both Anthony Davis and Malik Monk, as well, because they are nursing injuries and it’s the second half of a back-to-back. Both were in some question for Wednesday’s 99-94 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Davis (wrist) was great with 30 points and 15 rebounds but also played 36 minutes. Monk (groin) didn’t look healthy in shooting just 2-for-10 from the field in 30 minutes. The Lakers are 2-4 straight up in the second of a back-to-back this season. 

The Clippers are well-rested as they have been off since completing their “Grammy” trip on Monday with a loss at the Indiana Pacers. Center Ivica Zubac (9.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG) missed that game due to a calf injury but is likely to return on Thursday.

This will be the Clips' first home game since Jan. 17, and they are 15-12 at home. No doubt the Clippers get fired up to play their Big Brothers, and they've won the last four in the series. The lone meeting this season was Dec. 3, with the Clippers prevailing 119-115. The Lakers had LeBron healthy for that meeting.

Combined NBA Parlay Odds: Pistons +7 (-11) + Suns (-165) + Clippers (-150) = +411

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NBA parlay picks made 2/3/2022 at 11:08 a.m. ET.