Best NBA Parlay Picks & Odds Today: Our Expert Playoff Predictions for May 9

We're teeing up tonight's NBA playoffs action with a juicy +467 parlay that features Jalen Williams prominently.

Last updated: May 9, 2025 1:18 PM EDT • 4 min read

With both Game 3s tonight featuring road favorites in need of key victories, we're riding with those superior rosters in our best NBA parlay picks today. The result is a three-leg parlay featuring +467 odds at FanDuel.

Our NBA picks include Cleveland getting on the board after being down 0-2 to Indiana. We also envision the Thunder continuing their dominance from Game 2, with Jalen Williams showing up in a major way for Oklahoma City.

🏀 Best NBA parlay picks today: May 9

✅ 1st leg: Thunder -5.5 (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ 2nd leg: Cavaliers -4.5 (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ 3rd leg: Jalen Williams Over 21.5 points (-125) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 Parlay odds: +467 via FanDuel (bet $10 to win $46.70 profit)

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🔥 1st leg: Thunder -5.5 (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Thunder reminded us who they are in Game 2 while thumping the undermanned Nuggets during a 43-point rout. Though the venue shifts for Game 3 to Denver’s benefit, I don’t see the Nuggets putting the toothpaste back in the tube after letting OKC get to its game so easily, especially considering Denver’s underwhelming 20-24-1 against-the-spread record at home.

The Thunder cover 62.5% of the time during away games (25-15-2 ATS), with an average margin of victory on the road of 10.1 PPG. That’s the best leaguewide, and it feels like we’re seeing too small of a line here given that context.

🔥 2nd leg: Cavaliers -4.5 (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Cavaliers are in dire straits heading into the belly of the best in Indiana on Friday night while trailing 2-0 in a series they were expected to handle with ease. Though the task is daunting, Cleveland can lean on its road record.

The Cavs are the NBA's best road team ATS this season at 28-15. They've produced a 9.3 average margin of victory on the road, and the team is getting an attainable line due to fears over the way Cleveland started the series. If the Cavaliers hold any hope of staging a series comeback, this feels like the get-right spot.

🔥 3rd leg: Jalen Williams Over 21.5 points (-125) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After pouring in 20-plus points during each game of the Thunder’s series against the Memphis Grizzlies, it’s been a slower start to the scoring pace for Jalen Williams against Denver.

But Williams’ efficiency was more than adequate during a 17-point Game 2 effort. He was just given fewer minutes due to the blowout nature of the win.

We like the Nuggets to keep a Game 3 loss respectable, so Williams should get plenty of scoring chances in this matchup. After putting together scoring outings of 26 and 23 during the two road games of the Memphis series, Williams should shine on the road Friday.

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Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer

Brenden has covered the St. Louis Cardinals as a credentialed baseball writer for KMOV-TV since 2016. His sports writing has appeared in outlets including the Austin American-Statesman and Columbia Daily Tribune. Since 2021, Brenden has co-hosted 'The Big Show' during the afternoon drive for KTGR, the ESPN radio affiliate in Columbia, MO. He has appeared on radio stations around the country, including KMOX, and hosts a daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast. In the sports betting content space, Brenden has covered the NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball for outlets including SBR since 2019. For his football handicapping, Brenden looks to target NFL player prop markets as well as sharp underdog lines in college football. Brenden looks to reference FanDuel for his sports betting articles because of its consistently competitive odds on parlays. FanDuel's boost offerings are also customer-friendly, and its odds on the NFL Same Game Parlay articles he's written for SBR have historically been consistently competitive compared to other books.