Wednesday NBA Parlay Picks: Bucks-Cavs, Knicks-Heat

Some NBA players are simply never happy. Take Nets star James Harden. He recently complained about the officiating in saying he does not believe he is getting the benefit of the whistle the same way he did in past years. “Obviously, you can’t call all of them. But there’s ones where there’s clearly stiff-arms and trips and things like that. But on the other end, there’s no consistency. So it’s frustrating.” Yet, Harden is actually getting to the foul line almost once more per game this season (8.2 attempts) compared to a year ago (7.3 attempts). Here’s a look at two NBA games to parlay on Wednesday with odds TK.

NBA games to bet on Wednesday

Milwaukee at Cleveland, 7 PM ET

The Bucks are off a 133-127 home win over the Kings on Saturday. Donte DiVincenzo had his best game of the season with 20 points. Khris Middleton shot 12-of-20 from the field for 34 points. Jrue Holiday had 26 points. After coming off the bench in each of his first two games back from a sprained ankle, Holiday made his return to the starting lineup Saturday night.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee soreness) sidelined, Middleton and Jrue Holiday were the Bucks’ top two offensive options Saturday. And both came through, combining to score 60 of the Bucks’ 133 points. Milwaukee’s 133 points were the third-most it’s put up in a game this season, improving to 14-0 this season when scoring 120+ points. The Bucks also knocked down 21 threes, marking their third-most in a game this season, and improved to 11-0 all-time when making 20+ threes in a game.

Giannis should play here. Grayson Allen will not, though. He missed Saturday’s game injured and will sit this one out suspended due to a flagrant foul last week on Chicago’s Alex Caruso, who is out 6-8 weeks with a broken wrist. Guard Wesley Matthews is out as well Wednesday after injuring his knee Saturday.

Cleveland edged New York 95-93 on Monday. Kevin Love had 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 24 minutes. Even with Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen out of action, Love didn’t crack the starting five. He’s only started twice all season, most recently on Dec. 30, though he’s excelled in a bench role. Markkanen will miss a few more games at least. Allen is in question with a non-COVID illness. Cleveland is 20-5 this season when Allen finishes with a double-double. His 25 double-doubles match his total from last season, reaching the mark in 23 fewer games.

The Bucks and Cavs are meeting for the third of four times this season, with both teams earning a win in their first two matchups of the season. In the Mike Budenholzer era, Milwaukee is 10-2 against Cleveland and enters tonight’s game on a three-game winning streak in Cleveland.

Pick:

Bucks 107, Cavs 104.

New York at Miami, 7:30 PM ET

The Heat and Knicks meet for the first of three matchups this season. Last season, Miami swept the series, 3-0, and has currently won a franchise-best five consecutive games against the Knicks in Miami.

Miami is off a 113-107 home win over the Lakers on Sunday. Jimmy Butler triple-doubled with 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds with just one turnover. He also notched his 10th triple-double of his Miami career, moving him past LeBron James for the most regular-season triple-doubles in Heat history.

Bam Adebayo accounted for 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. “He’s playing at a high level, and it’s a testament to the hard work he’s put in,” teammate Duncan Robinson said of Adebayo. “There are not a lot of players who can do what he does, flying around and making an impact on both ends.”

Sixth Man of the Year favorite Tyler Herro has cleared the league’s health and safety protocols and should return Wednesday. Herro has scored a team-leading 786 points this season, already just 29 short from his single season high of 815 in 2020-21. Herro has scored at least 20 points off the bench 17 times this season.

The Knicks lost 95-93 in Cleveland on Monday. Kemba Walker ended with eight points on eight shot attempts. Walker has appeared in just two of the Knicks’ last 10 games due to a knee injury, and he averaged 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in that span. Nerlens Noel posted two points and 13 rebounds.

Noel drew the start Monday with Mitchell Robinson (ankle) out of action. Robinson is iffy for this one. He is ninth in the NBA in blocks at 1.49 per game. Noel is questionable too.

Pick: Heat 105, Knicks 98.