The NBA brings another 8-game slate with itself on Thursday night. There is a double-header on NBA TV that will tip off with the Detroit Pistons looking to end their record 27-game losing streak against the Boston Celtics. That will be followed up by a cross conference match as the Miami Heat visit the Golden State Warriors.
You can see out NBA previews here, but for now let’s dive right into my mega parlay for tonight.
The Bulls have been 21st in the NBA in offensive rating over the last 5 games, far behind the Pacers who rank 7th in that category. The Pacers should have the advantage of the second unit, with scorers like Buddy Hield coming in. The Bulls will be relying on Ayo Dosunmu to carry their second unit scoring wise, but he has hit double figures in points just 4 times in their last 11 games. The visitors will also be helped by the fact that they are much more efficient from beyond the arc. They rank 4th on the season in 3-point percentage, with the Bulls just 17th. The Pacers have won 3 of the last 4 between the sides, look for them to improve on that further tonight and cover.
The Dallas Mavericks have Luka Doncic available, which alone should help them be competitive in most games. I expect that to be the case here against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Rudy Gobert running at center and Doncic being one of the best in the league in running pick and rolls, they should be able to keep pace tonight. The hosts are coming into the game after a 23-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The hosts could also be without Karl-Anthony Towns who is listed as questionable to play. Considering he has been contributing 22 points per game for the Timberwolves, he could be a major miss tonight. Without him, it is hard to see the Timberwolves blow the Mavericks out.