NBA Picks & Parlay of the Weekend | January 27

We’re riding a hot streak with our NBA picks, and have got your parlay set up for Saturday night. It’s two of the marquee franchises in The League with the Lakers taking on Golden State in a rematch from the Western Conference semifinals last season. Both teams are on the outside of the playoff picture at the moment and need a win.

Lakers ML (+116) at FanDuel

We’ve seen some action on the point spread already, bouncing up a point. This is great value for a Lakers win on the road.

LA is only 23-23 and tied with the Jazz for ninth in the West. My theory on the Lakers is they just want to position themselves to make the playoffs, and then they’ll turn it on. But this is one of those nights where they’ll be fully engaged. It’s the first meeting of the season between these two teams. LA won the playoff series last year 4-2. And just when people started griping about Lakers coach Darvin Ham, the Lakers have started to play better.

Golden State got Draymond Green back from his suspension and he gives them an emotional and defensive boost, but where the Lakers look like they are just biding their time, the Warriors just look tired. Golden State is 19-23 and only 12-12 at home. Steph Curry still is the leader with 26.8 points a game, but is often asked to do it all. They do miss Chris Paul, who they will get back in a few weeks.

This is a game the Lakers will want to win, so I think they get it.

Over 239.5 points (-110) at FanDuel

We’ve seen an outburst of scoring all across the NBA. The reasons why vary, but basically, it comes down to the players are so skilled and the style of offense is based on space and pace, and well, defensive players in the NBA don’t get Supermax money.

The NFL is an under league. The NBA lately is an Over league and I like the over total tonight.

LA’s season total is 25-21 over/under and their last four games have hit the over. They scored a season high 141 against the Bulls Thursday night. In other words, their offense is starting to click.

Golden State has scored 134 and 133 the last two times out, and six of their last seven games have gone over. Both teams are rested. Both teams don’t play all that great defense. This sets up as a shootout with a big number.

Take the over.

Over 24.5 (+111) at FanDuel

This is one of the things that makes betting at Michigan sportsbooks so fun, because you can ride a hunch (also make sure you always bet responsibly).

In the past week we’ve seen some monster games from NBA superstars. Luka Doncic of the Mavs goes for 73 points, Joel Embiid of the Sixers hits for 70, Devin Booker of the Suns went for 62.

You know that NBA stars all look at those things and want to prove they’re the Alpha Dog in the NBA. LeBron -- yeah, I know, he’s 39 -- is still the real Alpha Dog in the NBA and I just think he has seen all these big numbers and is thinking, ‘nah, I’m still The Man.’ I don’t know that he goes for 70, but I could see him put up a real big number in this one to make a statement. His career high is 61 back in 2014. Against the Warriors in his career he’s averaged 27.3.

Ride the wave and take LeBron to go over this points total.