This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
3-Leg Parlay (+232): Darius Garland + Ricky Rubio + Cedi Osman to all score 15+ points at Nets -- FanDuel, 1:03 PM CT
The Cavs will be without Collin Sexton, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen for this game. There isn't a huge sample size without those guys, but I expect Garland, Rubio and Osman to carry the offense.
2-Leg Parlay (+209): DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to each score 25+ points at Trail Blazers -- FanDuel, 1:05 PM CT
The Blazers are the seventh-worst defense in the league, and with Nikola Vucevic still sidelined, DeRozan and LaVine are the clear-cut, go-to options on offense. Per 36 minutes with Vooch off the court, DeRozan averages 34.0 points and LaVine averaged 28.9 points.
Tim Hardaway Jr. over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists (-106) at Suns -- FanDuel, 1:06 PM CT
Kristaps Porzingis over 20.5 points (-110) at Suns -- FanDuel, 1:06 PM CT
I'm grouping these together, as the absence of Luka Doncic will open up an absurd amount of usage in Dallas' offense. Both Hardaway and Porzingis are clear beneficiaries. Per 36 minutes with Doncic off the court, THJ is averaging 21.4 points on 19.3 shots, 8.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, while Porzingis averages 36.1 points on 22.7 shots.
Nick Whalen
Daniel Gafford UNDER 8.5 rebounds (+100) at Charlotte Hornets -- DraftKings Sportsbook, 2:00 PM CT
I recognize that Charlotte is one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, but this is a suspiciously high number for a player who is yet to top eight rebounds in any game this season. Gafford has five or fewer rebounds in nine of 11 contests, and his workload is typically capped in the 20-to-25-minute range. Maybe I'm a sucker for biting on this line, but there's little statistical evidence to suggest Gafford suddenly breaks out. He pulled down nine or more rebounds only five times in 61 appearances in 2020-21.
