NBA Picks & Parlay of the Weekend | January 19

Once again, the NFL Playoffs will get the spotlight over the weekend, but Friday night is still all about the NBA. What better way to begin the weekend than with a parlay? We’ve taken the NBA’s Friday schedule and come up with a three-leg parlay on BetMGM that we think has a serious chance of cashing.

Spurs +4.5 | -115 at BetMGM

These two teams met in San Antonio last Friday with the Spurs winning 135-99. Are the Hornets seriously going to turn a 36-point loss into a five-point win in the span of a week? To be fair, center Victor Wembanyama and his backup Zach Collins have both been ruled out for this game. But the Spurs have played much better lately, going 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games. Naturally, they’ve saved their best performances for their games against the worst teams. The Hornets certainly fit that description, which is why it’s a good idea to take San Antonio and the points in this game.

Keep in mind that the Hornets have lost 17 of their last 18 games. They’ve also lost six in a row against the spread and are just 1-2 straight up as a home favorite this season. Charlotte’s current form is reminiscent of how bad the Spurs were earlier this season, which is why we plan on fading the Hornets on Friday.

Magic +4.5 | -105 at BetMGM

It’s been a rough stretch for the Magic, who are 1-4 in their last five games and dealing with injuries to two starters with Gary Harris and Franz Wagner both sidelined. However, two of those four losses came by three points or less. Orlando is also 7-4 against the spread in its last 11 games. More importantly, the Magic has gone 6-2 against the spread as a home underdog this season. They still have Paolo Banchero and solid point guard play, which should allow Orlando to make things interesting and keep this game close.

It's not as if the Sixers are clicking on all cylinders right now. They aren’t far removed from a three-game losing streak and are playing without De’Anthony Melton and some key reserves. Also, Philadelphia is 2-3 in the team’s last five road games and is starting a long road swing on Friday night. In other words, the 76ers could be vulnerable in this game, which is why we like the Magic as home underdogs.

Heat -6.5 | -105 at BetMGM

Don’t be fooled by Atlanta’s recent 3-2 homestand that began with a win over the 76ers. The Hawks also lost to the Wizards during that stretch, which speaks to how unreliable they are. More importantly, Atlanta is 6-14 against the spread on the road, making them the worst ATS road team in the NBA. With De’Andre Hunter sidelined and Trae Young listed as a game-time decision, there aren't too many reasons to believe in the Hawks heading into Friday’s game.

Meanwhile, Miami has picked it up lately and at least has the starting lineup back healthy despite still missing a couple of key reserves. Plus, while the Hawks have been dreadful on the road, the Heat is 5-1 straight up and 5-1 against the spread in the team’s last six home games. The current spread for this game isn’t unreasonable for the Heat to cover against a subpar team, making it a safe way to conclude Friday’s parlay.