The NBA returns to regular-scheduled programming on Thursday with a nine-game slate. I've built out a +295 three-leg parlay for the action.
The pregame narrative: Paolo Banchero is in a great spot to light up the scoreboard against the Atlanta Hawks. Elsewhere, take the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers on alternate spreads in their matchups against the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Check out the full NBA parlay picks for Feb. 19.
NBA parlay picks
Parlay: Banchero over 24.5 points | Celtics -3.5 | Trail Blazers +8.5 (+295)
Banchero over 24.5 points (-105): Banchero hasn't looked like himself since returning from a torn oblique muscle on Jan. 10.
He's averaging 20.6 PPG across 17 appearances while shooting a miserable 40.6% from the field and 28.9% from deep.
But there are a few reasons to believe he'll snap out of it on Thursday:
- Banchero scored 24 and 31 points in his last two games while attempting 20+ field goals in both contests.
- He's had a week to rest up and scored 30+ points when he's ultra fresh (first game of the season and first game when returning from injury).
- The Hawks allow the fourth-most points per game to power forwards, according to Fantasy Pros.
Banchero has cleared this mark in three straight games against Atlanta, scoring 30-plus points twice.
Other picks
Celtics -3.5 (-250): The Celtics shook off their New Year's slump and entered the all-star break on a rampage.
Boston is 7-1 in its last eight games, winning five of those games by double digits. Its last three victories came by a combined 58 points against some solid opponents (Knicks, Heat, Spurs).
The same can't be said for the 76ers, who have been a disaster all year long.
The 76ers have lost five straight games and seven of their last eight. That includes a 118-110 loss to the Celtics in Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid played in four of those games and Philly went 1-3 outright and 0-4 ATS.
Trail Blazers +8.5 (-230): The Trail Blazers entered the all-star break on a three-game losing streak but I'll forgive them.
Those games were all on the road and came against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets (twice). Before that, Portland had won six straight and 10 of its last 11.
The Blazers are locking in defensively and should get the best of a Lakers team playing on a back-to-back.
Portland is 9-5 ATS with a rest advantage and Los Angeles will have to travel after hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
Picks made at 11:03 a.m. on 02/19/2025.
