After an exciting evening of NBA Cup action, the league’s regularly scheduled programming returns tonight with eight games on the slate. Among the highlighted games are Bulls vs Bucks and Knicks vs Suns, which are part of tonight’s doubleheader on ESPN.
Here are my best NBA parlays for Wednesday night’s action.
All NBA odds are current as of Wednesday, Nov. 20.
John Arlia’s 2024-25 NBA parlay betting record: 0-4 (-2 Units)
NBA Best Parlay Today
NBA Best Parlay (+593)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
- Cavaliers -15 (-108) vs Pelicans
- Bulls +8.5 (-115) @ Bucks
- Trail Blazers @ Thunder: Over 223.5 Points (-110)
Tuesday’s best NBA parlay (+595) came up just short, as the Lakers failed to cover the spread at home against the Jazz. However, the Mavericks covered the spread easily in a blowout win and the Thunder-Spurs Under hit, so I can take some confidence from hitting two out of three picks for a second straight night.
Today’s best NBA parlay is another three-leg bet at (+593).
I’ll start with the Cleveland Cavaliers to cover a 15-point spread at home against the New Orleans Pelicans. They don’t call it the National Blowout Association for nothing. The Pelicans are missing a handful of contributors due to injury and are coming off a 41-point loss in Dallas last night. New Orleans has lost eight of its last nine games (five by double digits) and is 0-4 ATS as a road underdog this season. The Cavs have the best ATS record in the NBA (12-4) and should be eager to take out some frustration after suffering their first loss of the year last night in Boston.
I also like the Bulls to cover an 8.5-point spread as road underdogs in Milwaukee. Although the Bucks have won three straight at home, this team still has significant issues. The impending return of Khris Middleton (ankle) should help, but he’s out again tonight. With that in mind, I’m backing a Bulls team that won its first trip to the Fiserv Forum 133-122 on Oct. 25. Look for Coby White to have another big game against a Bucks defense allowing the third-most points and sixth-most three-pointers to opposing point guards.
Lastly, I like the Over in the Northwest Division matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers. This meeting will be the second between these two this season after OKC won the first 137-114 in Portland on Nov. 1. While both teams will be missing some pieces that featured in that matchup — the Thunder continue to be without Chet Holmgren, while Blazers center Deandre Ayton is doubtful — the formula for a high-scoring game is still here. These two teams rank sixth and seventh in the NBA in pace, so there should be plenty of scoring opportunities on both sides.
Lock in this parlay with your NBA bet of the day.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
NBA Best Same Game Parlay Today
Knicks vs Suns SGP (+500)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
- Knicks -4.5 (-115)
- Under 224.5 Points (-110)
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 25+ Points (-140)
For the second straight night, my same-game parlay came agonizingly close to cashing but, ultimately, came up empty. The Celtics won, Jayson Tatum collected more than nine rebounds, but the Under missed out on a push by two points because Ty Jerome made a meaningless buzzer-beater with Cleveland down by five.
I’m highlighting an interconference matchup between the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns for tonight’s best NBA same-game parlay (+500).
I’m leading with the Knicks to cover the 4.5-point spread as road favorites. Although Phoenix is 5-2 at home and New York is 3-4 on the road, this line doesn’t feel long enough when you consider that the Suns are missing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal due to calf injuries. Phoenix is 1-5 without Durant, and its lone win came against a Utah team that currently occupies the basement in the West.
- Read more on tonight’s action with our best NBA prop bets.
I’m also taking the Under on the total at 224.5 points. The Knicks (29th) and Suns (T-25th) are two of the slowest teams in the league, which will minimize the possessions and scoring opportunities for both teams. Phoenix will also likely continue to struggle scoring the basketball without two of its top scorers.
Lastly, let’s take Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns to score 25 or more points. Towns leads the Knicks in scoring with just over 26 points per game and has hit this prop in three of his last five outings. The Suns allow the sixth-most points to opposing centers, so look for Towns to exploit the Phoenix defense down low and from the perimeter.
What Is an NBA Parlay Bet?
Parlays are a popular form of betting since they provide higher payouts for users. Parlays align well with the NBA, with a wide range of outcomes for each game.
You can parlay the game and total, but you can also bet on several player props since there are many stats, such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Choosing sportsbooks that provide several betting markets is important to have more options. It would be best if you also shopped around to ensure you have the best lines that put you in the best position to win.
With that said, let’s get into how NBA parlay betting works.
How NBA Parlay Betting Works
NBA parlay betting is when you combine multiple wagers, called legs, into one. If you win each of the legs, you win your parlay and earn a much higher payout than if you would have bet each line individually. The higher the odds on your specific bet, the higher the payout your parlay will be.
For example, let’s say I bet on the Raptors, 76ers, and Celtics all on the moneyline. Each team is a heavy favorite in their game, around (-300) each.
This parlay would pay me (+137) on the moneyline, which means I’d risk $100 to win $137.
However, if I bet on the Hornets, Kings, and Grizzlies as (+200) underdogs on the moneyline, this parlay would pay (+2600). This means that I’d risk $100 to win $2,600.
You can parlay the spread, moneyline, total, and player props in the NBA. There are several upsets in a given season, so you can take advantage of some potentially high payouts throughout the year.
The NBA is among the best sports to bet on because any team can lose on any given night.
Take advantage of the potential profits available in NBA parlays.
Best NBA Parlay Betting Sites
It’s important to choose the best parlay betting site to put you in a good spot as a bettor.
The following sportsbooks are the best options to choose from when you’re placing a wager on an NBA parlay:
DraftKings
DraftKings features a comprehensive selection of potential bets in the NBA betting market, including several player props. DraftKings also has a useful rewards program with several promotions.
FanDuel
FanDuel is similar to DraftKings in that it includes several choices for prop bets.
There are also same-game parlays on FanDuel, where you can parlay a bunch of outcomes from one game rather than multiple. When you parlay props in the same game, you can correlate your bets.
For example, taking the Over on Scoot Henderson‘s assists prop and Deandre Ayton‘s points prop would have a positive correlation since there’s a good chance that if Henderson is racking up assists, Ayton is scoring at a high rate.
BetMGM
BetMGM Sportsbook also includes same-game parlays, giving you the option of correlating your player props bets. This website offers several useful promotions that can help you succeed as a bettor.
It’s a user-friendly website with an assortment of betting markets. They also offer live streaming, so you have a chance to watch your NBA bet on the website.
PointsBet
PointsBet is another great choice as one of the most innovative sportsbooks out there. It features a “points betting" system, where users are rewarded if their team wins by a wider margin.
This means that if you take the Raptors to win by seven points or more but they win by 20, you can earn a larger payout. However, it also means that if your team loses by more, you might risk more money.
Points betting is a unique feature that is worth trying out.
Bet365
Bet365 provides users with several options in the NBA betting market, which is great for parlays. They also have a promotion where bettors are offered bonus winnings if they win their parlay, up to a certain amount.
The more legs on your parlay, the higher your bonus if you’re able to win.
How to Pick the Best NBA Parlay Betting Sites
It’s important to choose the right sportsbook for NBA parlay betting.
Welcome Bonuses
Choose a sportsbook that provides you with a first-deposit bonus, where they match your first deposit to a certain amount, or a second-chance bet, where you are reimbursed for your first losing bet. There are maximums for these bonuses.
Player Props
Select a sportsbook that provides you with several options for player props.
There are so many props to choose from, and they’re often easier to project. For example, if you choose the Over on James Harden points in a game with a high projected total, there’s a good chance he’s going Over.
Same-Game Parlays
Same-game parlays are huge in the NBA since they allow you to correlate your bets. Some outcomes work well with each other, like a player’s points and assists.
If one player on the team is racking up assists, chances are that another player is scoring efficiently. Same-game parlays put you in a better position to win big.
Promotions
It’s also a good idea to check to see if the sportsbook provides parlay-related promotions, such as odds boosts (increasing odds on selected games), parlay insurance (providing you with wins if you don’t hit every game), and parlay bonuses (giving you bonus winnings if you hit your parlay).
Read up on some of the best NBA betting promotions.
NBA Parlay Betting Promotions
There are a few promotions that can help you with NBA parlays, such as:
Parlay Insurance
Parlay insurance is when a sportsbook provides users with winnings if they win only a certain amount of games on their parlay.
For example, let’s say you play a six-leg parlay and win five of the legs. Parlay insurance will provide you with a certain percentage of these winnings.
There’s nothing worse than coming away with nothing even though you won five of your six bets.
Parlay Bonuses
Parlay bonuses are a percentage of winnings provided to users if they win their bets. For example, if you win a three-leg parlay, you might get 5% extra winnings from the parlay bonus.
The more games featured in your parlay, the higher the potential bonus winnings.
Early Payouts
Early payouts are provided as a promotion, and they can be vital.
For example, if your team is winning by 15-20 points at any point in the game, the sportsbook will award you with an early payout.
Leads can change very quickly in the NBA, so this helps prevent any potential bad beats with a close loss.
Cash-Out Options
Cash-out options are another feature offered by sportsbooks. This means that if you win two legs out of your three-leg parlay, you’re able to cash out and take fewer winnings so that you avoid risking it all on the third.
This is especially useful if you’ve hit five of the first six legs of your parlay, as you’re able to take an early win, albeit for a lesser prize.
Best NBA Parlay Bets
When betting on NBA parlays, make sure to take advantage of home-favorite parlays, home-underdog parlays, and same-game parlays.
Home-favorite parlays are safe with fewer payouts, but they help protect you against the risk you take with home-underdog parlays, which have a lot more variance.
Plus, if you only want to bet on your favorite team and rack up a high payout, there’s no better way to do so.
NBA Same-Game Parlays
NBA same-game parlays are when a sportsbook provides users with a chance to bet on different outcomes within the same game, such as the moneyline, spread, total, and player props.
Not every sportsbook offers this option, so be sure to check in before signing up. Some sportsbooks also put restrictions on which bet types you can parlay.
NBA Parlay Betting Strategy
There are several effective strategies for betting on parlays in the NBA.
The first one can be where you bet on the moneyline on several home favorites. Home-court advantage is huge in the NBA, so if you parlay four heavy home favorites on the moneyline, there’s a good chance that you’ll win, albeit at a low payout.
This is a safe strategy designed to insulate you against the risk you’ll take with longshot parlays.
Another strategy is to focus on same-game parlays, where you can parlay props, as well as the game spread, moneyline, and total in the same game.
For example, if you bet the Over on Stephen Curry‘s three-pointers prop, you might also choose the Over on the game total, since if Curry is making several threes, there’s a good chance it’s a high-scoring game.
There are always many props to choose from, so take advantage of these options and correlate them with others to maximize your chances of winning.
It’s also a good idea to go with an underdog parlay from time to time, especially with home underdogs.
You can often find some high-value moneylines that can hit, providing you with a chance at a high payout. Any team can lose at any time in the NBA, so underdog parlays are a good strategy.
How to Place an NBA Parlay Bet Online
Here are the steps that you need to take to place an NBA parlay bet online:
- Sign into your account at your preferred sportsbook
- Click “NBA"
- Go to “Parlays" (if this isn’t an option, select a few games to add to your bet slip)
- Place your bet.
Benefits of NBA Parlay Betting Online
The benefit of NBA parlay betting online is that it’s much easier and more convenient to place a wager on an online sportsbook. You can do it from the comfort of your own laptop or mobile device rather than walking into the sportsbook at the casino, waiting in line, and choosing your bets for your parlay.
Making NBA betting picks online is also advantageous because sportsbooks will sometimes offer useful promotions on parlays, such as bonus winnings if you hit on a parlay of four legs or more. You’re not able to take advantage of this at an in-person sportsbook.
Take advantage of the benefits of betting on NBA parlays online.
Where Can I Legally NBA Parlay Bet Online?
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Choose More Than One NBA Parlay Betting Site
It’s important to register for more than one NBA parlay betting site so you can take advantage of the different welcome bonuses, shop around for the best odds, and find certain unique props.
Some websites offer useful first-deposit bonuses. Others have better value on certain props.
The bottom line is that you need to make sure that you’re NBA parlay betting on multiple websites.
