O'Sullivan's Thursday NBA Picks: 76ers at Pistons, Celtics at Heat, Jazz at Hawks, parlays, Jimmy Butler prop

Seattle O’Sullivan 2021-2022 NBA Season so far: 32-44–2, -$196.50

Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons, 7 pm Eastern

The Pick: Philadelphia -215, bet $10.75 to win $5; Philadelphia -5.5 (-110), bet $3.30 to win $3.

Philadelphia goes on the road tonight after a tough win against Chicago, where Joel Embiid played well but not great. Embiid’s quest to become a truly great player will be helped by challenges like tonight, where a true superstar puts aside the fatigue of a back-to-back and the memory of an “okay” performance, puts his team on his back, and takes care of business against a team he should dominate. I have faith in Embiid, his willingness to be great, and to prove he doesn’t need Ben Simmons. The Sixers have won five straight; the Pistons only win this season was over Orlando. I think Embiid pushes through tonight. Moneyline for dinner, cover for dessert.

Boston Celtics at Miami Heat, 7:30 pm Eastern

The Pick: Miami -275, bet $27.50 to win $10; Miami -6 (-114), bet $4.64 to win $4.

Miami is playing better than anyone in the NBA right now, especially defensively, are 6-1 overall (6-1 against the spread), 3-0 at home, and have a day’s rest. Boston is 3-5, is on the second game of a road back-to-back. I don’t think the Celtics beating Orlando handily last night has suddenly solved all of their ills. The Heat seem to be on a mission to seize control of the Eastern Conference. Boston is 3-7 against Miami (3-7 ATS) in their last ten matchups. This is a statement game for the Heat; I think they make an emphatic one. Moneyline, dinner. Cover, dessert.

Player Prop Parlay: Jimmy Butler over 22.5 points w/over 0.5 threes made +208, bet $5 to win $10.43

I think Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler likes to make statements as well. I think he hears folks talk about Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum, and doesn’t much care for it.

Teaser: Philadelphia +1 w/Miami -0.5 -138, bet $13.80 to win $10

Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 pm Eastern

The Pick: Utah -116, bet $5.80 to win $5

Atlanta plays its second of back-to-back games tonight as well. They’re coming home, where they’ve won three straight, but it’s to face the best team in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz, and it’s after a draining loss on national television to the Brooklyn Nets. I think the Hawks will have just a little trouble getting up for tonight. The Jazz are fifth in scoring per game (112.3); the Hawks are 17th (107.9). The Jazz are fourth in giving up points (100.4); the Hawks 13th (107.9). Utah is balanced and consistent; Atlanta has yet to prove they are as well.

Parlay: Phoenix Suns -10.5 w/Los Angeles Lakers -14 +261, bet $5 to win $13.07

Teaser: Phoenix -5 w/Los Angeles -8.5 -110 $11 to win $10

Call it the “anti-parlay,” “anti-teaser,” whatever. I’m betting against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, and I’m betting against LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers forgetting that the Thunder actually beat them last week. Oklahoma City fought back from down 26 - 26! - in that game. I imagine Los Angeles might want to say something about that tonight. One would hope so, right? Put it this way: would Michael Jordan let this game stay close?

Moneyline Parlay: Philadelphia (-220) w/Utah (-116) w/Phoenix (-590) w/Los Angeles (-1200), true price +243, bet $2.50 to win $6.08

Why not?

Moneyline Parlay: Miami (-260) w/Philadelphia (-220) w/Utah (-116) w/Phoenix (-560) w/Los Angeles (-1200), true price +383, bet $1.50 to win $5.76

Again, why not?