Top NBA Parlay Picks for Saturday

Henry John

Last Updated: January 15, 2022 9:32 AM EST • 3 min 24 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 12: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots a free throw during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 12, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Stacy Revere / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Saturday's NBA parlay picks combine a pair of big moneyline favorites with a feisty home underdog playing with a rest advantage.

While much of the sports betting world will be keyed in on the start of the NFL postseason Saturday, there is also a solid 10-game NBA slate on the docket. When it comes to stringing together winning NBA parlay picks, the more options we have at our disposal, the better.

One key element of Saturday's NBA schedule to note is that a whopping 10 teams will be playing on no days' rest. After a nine-game slate yesterday, several teams are now set to play on back-to-back nights. Bettors should carefully monitor any "load management" injury designations and examine games in which one team will be at a rest disadvantage compared to its opponent.

Here are my top parlay picks for Saturday's NBA action. (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on 1-to-5-star scale).

Top NBA Parlay Picks

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets (-235) ?????Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder +4.5 (-105) ???Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks (-630) ?????

Top NBA Parlay Predictions

Nets (-235)

The last time the Brooklyn Nets took to the court, they were embarrassed by the Oklahoma City Thunder on their home floor. That Thursday game was the ultimate letdown spot after the Nets knocked off the Chicago Bulls in a battle of the top two clubs in the Eastern Conference one day prior. Brooklyn was without Kevin Durant for that Thursday game given that it was their second game in as many days.

Durant will be back for Saturday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, and it seems very safe to assume that the Nets won't drop back-to-back home games to sub-.500 teams. Brooklyn will be without Kyrie Irving given that this is a home game. In many ways, having Irving in the fold for away games is simply a luxury at this point. After all, the Nets were playing every game without him until recently. In Durant and James Harden, Brooklyn will still have the two best players on the floor in Saturday's contest.

The Pelicans are fully healthy, but figure to be overmatched. One of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, New Orleans simply does not have the personnel to contain a superstar duo like Durant and Harden. For the purposes of our NBA parlay picks, we'll go the safe route and take the Nets on the moneyline.

Thunder +4.5 (-105)

The Thunder have been exceeding NBA betting expectations all season long. A 27-14 ATS record ranks second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers team that the Thunder will host Saturday. Something has to give, and the line move from Cavs -7.5 down to -4.5 certainly suggests that the home underdog is the right side.

The Thunder were last in action on Thursday night and earned a blowout road win over the aforementioned Nets. Were the Nets playing without both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant? Yes. Was the win still an impressive one for this young Thunder team? Also yes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fell one assist shy of a triple-double. OKC is also benefitting greatly from having Luguentz Dort finally back and up to full speed. Prior to Thursday's outright win, the Thunder dropped close four-point decisions at home to Denver and on the road to Washington.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers come rolling into Oklahoma City on a three-game winning streak. Saturday's game is the sixth and final one of a west coast road trip for Cleveland. The Cavs are also one of the numerous teams playing for the second straight day. A rest disadvantage at the end of a long road trip is not an ideal mix. It's risky to say OKC will win this game outright, but the Thunder should be able to put up a fight and stay within the number.

Mavericks (-630)

Both the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic will be playing on no days' rest tonight. Other than that, these two teams have little else in common, evidenced by the massive betting point spread for this matchup. The Mavs knocked off the Memphis Grizzlies in blowout fashion last night to earn their eighth win in their last 10 games played.

As for the Magic, well, they have all of eight wins on the entire season to date. Note that one of those did come yesterday in a road upset of the Charlotte Hornets. That result might make it even less likely that Orlando will emerge victorious tonight. In addition, playing on the road for the second straight day also puts the Magic at a travel disadvantage.

After posting a triple-double in last night's win, there is a possibility that Luka Doncic will sit out tonight's home game. While there has not been official word on his status at the time of writing, Dallas certainly doesn't need Doncic to beat this awful Magic team outright. If the NBA betting odds are any indication, Doncic may very well play. The spread has ticked up from an opening line of Mavericks -10.5 to -11. For our NBA parlay picks, we'll rely on the Mavs to get the outright win to round out our +222 ticket.

Combined Odds: Nets (-235) + Thunder +4.5 (-105) + Mavericks (-630) = +222

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com's community forums and betting tools.

NBA parlay picks made 1/15/2022 at 1:11 p.m. ET

Written By:
Henry John

Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2023! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.