NBA Monday: O'Sullivan picks Orlando Magic at Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors, plus 3-team parlay
If you look up “ennui” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of me sitting in a dark room, late at night, awash in the glow of a television set, rooting for the Sacramento Kings. It’s enough to make one an existentialist. Jean-Paul Sartre would’ve been a Kings fan…
Seattle O’Sullivan 2021-2022 NBA Season so far: 14-157, -$74.73
Orlando Magic at Miami Heat, 7:30 pm Eastern
The Pick: Orlando +14 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
These two teams might not have a rivalry on the level of the Knicks and Bulls in the 90s, but given that they’re both in Florida, it’s not nothing. Fourteen points is a lot and I think the Magic play the Heat tough because there’s some semblance of importance in the matchup. Orlando is 5-1 against the spread in their last six games at Miami, and I think they’ll be up for the game while Miami might take their foot off the gas.
Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 pm Eastern
The Pick: Toronto +3 (-108), bet $10.80 to win $10.
I suppose I understand why Toronto are getting points here; Pascal Siakam is out with a shoulder injury. But they’re at home, they’re not as bad as last year would indicate (having to play “home” games in Florida during a pandemic might give a misleading result), and Chicago has gotten fat so far off of a terrible Detroit Pistons team. So I suppose I respectfully disagree with this line. I’ll take a home dog here.
Moneyline Parlay: Brooklyn (-360)/Atlanta (-560)/Denver (-560) - true price -130, bet $13 to win $10
Three teams at home against much weaker opponents. Even without Kyrie Irving, Nets stars Kevin Durant and James Harden should cruise against an outmatched Wizards team, and both Atlanta and Denver seem to be on the mission of proving last season wasn’t a fluke. As you’ve often heard me say, parlays are dumb, but I’m confident that because the three are at home, lowering the price to a manageable -130 makes it at least a little smart. (rationalization)