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NBA Parlay Picks: Knicks, Celtics & Nuggets Best Bets – May 1
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NBA Parlay Picks: Knicks, Celtics & Nuggets Best Bets – May 1

BestParlayOdds
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5 min read

Three National Basketball Association games on Friday night means parlay potential. Here are the best spread and total combinations with top odds.

National Basketball Association Parlay Picks - Friday, May 1, 2026

Friday night serves up a tasty three-game National Basketball Association slate, and wherever there are multiple games running back-to-back, there are parlay opportunities worth targeting. We've combed through the live market odds to find the best spread and total combinations across the Knicks-Hawks, Celtics-76ers, and Nuggets-Timberwolves matchups. Let's break it all down.

Game-by-Game Analysis

New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks (-00:10 UTC)

The New York Knicks open as -2.5 favourites on the road in Atlanta, available at -106 with FanDuel - one of the tighter lines on the board tonight. The Atlanta Hawks come in at +2.5 (-110, BetMGM), and their moneyline at +118 (BetMGM) represents a sneaky little value play if you believe the Hawks can steal one at home.

At a total of 213.5, this is the lowest-scoring projection of the night. The Under 213.5 is available at -105 with Hard Rock Bet, which is slightly better juice than the Over at -108 (Bally Bet). Given that both teams have incentive to grind this one out - especially the Knicks playing away - the Under carries some appeal. The Knicks moneyline at -132 (Bally Bet) is not great value given the small spread, but the spread itself at -2.5 (-106, FanDuel) is workable.

Pick: New York Knicks -2.5 (-106, FanDuel) + Under 213.5 (-105, Hard Rock Bet)

Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers (01:10 UTC)

The Boston Celtics travel to Philadelphia as heavy -5.5 favourites, with the best spread price coming in at -112 via Bally Bet. The Philadelphia 76ers are a generous +5.5 at -105 (DraftKings), and that plus-number is where the smart money may look. A depleted and struggling 76ers side getting nearly six points at home is not nothing.

The real value flag here, though, is the Philadelphia 76ers moneyline at +205 (Caesars). Implied probability on that is just under 33% - meaning Caesars is essentially saying there's a one-in-three chance Philly wins outright. If you believe the 76ers can be competitive at home, that +205 is genuinely generous and worth a small standalone bet or parlay inclusion for the brave.

The total is set at 212.5, with the Under priced better at -105 (theScore Bet) vs. the Over at -110 (BetMGM). Celtics games this season have historically trended toward defensive efficiency, and if Boston controls the pace against a limited Philly offence, Under 212.5 has merit.

Pick: Boston Celtics -5.5 (-112, Bally Bet) or Under 212.5 (-105, theScore Bet)

Value Flag: Philadelphia 76ers ML +205 (Caesars) - implied probability just 32.8%, worth a look for risk-tolerant bettors.

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves (02:40 UTC)

The late game is the marquee matchup of the night. The Denver Nuggets are -5.5 road favourites (-110, BetMGM), while the Minnesota Timberwolves get +5.5 at -105 (DraftKings). Minnesota's home court advantage is real, and getting five-and-a-half points in a competitive conference game feels like a lot. The Timberwolves +5.5 (-105, DraftKings) looks like the pick here.

The total of 224.5 is the highest on the board tonight - a proper high-octane clash expected. The Under 224.5 is priced at -105 (theScore Bet), marginally better than the Over at -110 (DraftKings). Nuggets-Wolves games tend to be physical and half-court heavy in big spots, making the Under a consideration.

Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5 (-105, DraftKings)

Recommended Parlay Combinations

Parlay 1 - The Spread Triple (3-Leg)

  • New York Knicks -2.5 (-106, FanDuel)
  • Boston Celtics -5.5 (-112, Bally Bet)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5 (-105, DraftKings)

Combined odds: approximately +561 - a $100 bet returns $661. This is the headline parlay of the night. All three spread picks have solid logic behind them: the Knicks are the better team in a tight game, the Celtics have the class to cover against a weak Philly side, and the Timberwolves get generous home cushion against Denver.

Parlay 2 - The Unders Double (2-Leg)

  • Under 213.5 (-105, Hard Rock Bet) - Knicks vs. Hawks
  • Under 212.5 (-105, theScore Bet) - Celtics vs. 76ers

Combined odds: approximately +223 - a $100 bet returns $323. Both totals sit sub-214 and both games feature defensively-minded teams with strong coaching. If pace is controlled early, Unders should cash here. The juice on both sides is near-even, which signals market uncertainty - good for the contrarian bettor.

Parlay 3 - The Value Bomb (3-Leg)

  • Philadelphia 76ers ML +205 (Caesars)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves +5.5 (-105, DraftKings)
  • Under 213.5 (-105, Hard Rock Bet) - Knicks vs. Hawks

Combined odds: approximately +1,050 - a $100 bet returns $1,150. This one is high risk but the Philly ML at +205 inflates the return dramatically. It's a small-stake, big-upside play. If the 76ers find a way to upset Boston at home, you're in business.

Best Value on the Board Tonight

The single best odds value flag is the Philadelphia 76ers ML at +205 (Caesars). The market's implied probability of roughly 33% feels slightly low for a home game, even against a superior Celtics team. Caesars are offering more generous odds than competitors here - worth noting even if you don't back it in a parlay. Shop around, but Caesars is the place to grab it.

The second-best value flag is Minnesota Timberwolves ML +190 (BetMGM) - getting nearly two-to-one on a home team against a team that has to travel late in the season is not something to completely ignore, even if the Nuggets are the more talented squad.

Friday Night National Basketball Association Summary

Three games, plenty of angles. The Spread Triple is the strongest play of the three parlays - clean logic, manageable risk, and a return of over 5x your stake. The Unders Double is a lower-variance safety play for those who prefer tighter lines, and the Value Bomb is for the high-rollers with faith in the 76ers pulling off an upset. Whatever you choose, line shop carefully - the differences between books on these games are meaningful, especially on the Celtics spread and the Philly moneyline.

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