Friday, January 5 NBA Parlay Picks

The first Friday of 2024 sets up nicely for a winning NBA parlay with 14 games on the docket, including the top teams from both conferences. The league-best Boston Celtics put their undefeated home record on the line against the surging Utah Jazz. Boston had its six-game winning streak stopped at Oklahoma City on Tuesday but has still won 11 of its last 13 games going 8-5 against the NBA betting line. The surprising Minnesota Timberwolves enter 2024 as leaders in the Western Conference with the second-best record in the NBA. The Wolves play a majority of their January games on the road starting with Friday’s contest against the Rockets.

I guess I’ll have to start backing the OKC Thunder more on my NBA parlays at BetRivers sportsbook, They are the most profitable team in the league with payouts in over 74 percent of their games. No other team has won more than 70 percent of their games as a NBA point spread pick. That could help me get a winning ticket since I lost again last week hitting only one of my three-team parlay picks. I backed Miami as a 3-point favorite against the Jazz. Utah won 117-109. I also took the UNDER in the Knicks-Pacers matchup. The teams combined for 266 points sailing over the total. My only winning NBA pick was the Dallas Mavericks upsetting Golden State as a 4-point road dog.

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NBA Schedule for Friday, January 5

Utah at Boston, 7 p.m. ET

Oklahoma City at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET

Toronto at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET

I went against the Utah Jazz last week and it cost me. I’m not making the same mistake again. The club is getting healthy and they’ve been on a roll lately climbing back into the Western Conference playoff picture. They went stretches without leading scorers Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson but the pair has returned leading the Jazz to five wins in six games after their 127-90 trouncing of Dallas on New Year’s Day. They also went 6-0 as a NBA pick against the spread in that span. Clarkson accomplished something no other Jazz player has in over a decade recording a triple-double against the Mavs with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

The Celtics keep winning, but man they made it closer than it needed to be in a pair of recent home wins. They nearly suffered the embarrassment of losing to Detroit only to rally from a 20-point deficit to win, 128-122, in overtime. They followed that the next night with a narrow, 120-118, win over Toronto. They failed to rally against a better OKC club on Tuesday falling 127-123 putting an end to their six-game winning streak. The Jazz may not win but they should stay within the NBA betting line.

I mentioned the Thunder and I’m sticking to what I said. Not only does OKC have the best overall record against the NBA betting line they’re tops on the road as well covering 75 percent of their games. They visit the Brooklyn Nets after recording impressive wins over Minnesota, Denver and Boston during a five-game winning streak where they were also 5-0 as a NBA betting pick. During the surge the Thunder KO’d Brooklyn 124-108 as a 7.5-point NBA odds pick. All five starters scored in double figures in the first meeting led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 24 points. The Thunder are one of the most efficient offensive teams leading the NBA in three-point percentage while averaging 121.5 points.

My first winning NBA parlay of the season takes place when the Sacramento Kings cover the NBA point spread in their matchup with Toronto. The Raptors are one of the worst road teams in the NBA with just four away wins as they embark on a six-game Western Conference trek. The Kings have been sporadic this season but they have rebounded well from losses. They were embarrassed on Tuesday losing at home to Charlotte as a 15.5-point favorite so they’ll be looking to take out their displeasure against someone. And the Raptors just happen to the unlucky guests.

Utah Jazz ATS

OKC Thunder ATS

Sacramento Kings ATS

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