SportsLine's model reveals an NBA parlay that could return $1.3 million on a $10 bet
By Ross Kelly Apr 2, 2026 at 11:15 am ET • 2 min read 
Imagn Images A six-game slate provides ample options for a Thursday NBA parlay, but instead of targeting simple basketball betting options like totals, spreads and money lines, you could target NBA longshot picks with the reward of bigger returns. From player props to alternate NBA lines to winning bands, these plus-money NBA bets are often of high interest. Perhaps the most anticipated game on Thursday is Lakers vs. Thunder (-8.5) which could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals this postseason.
OKC has won three straight versus L.A. with an 18-point average margin of victory. So, instead of simply utilizing the given NBA odds, you could play the alternate NBA spread of OKC (-17.5). Hitting on that longshot prediction would return you +251, making it worthy as a singular prediction or one leg of a Thursday NBA longshot parlay. Before locking in any Thursday NBA picks or forming a longshot parlay, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 24 on a sizzling 46-20 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has scoured the latest NBA odds and locked in six NBA best bets. If you successfully parlay its picks, you'd be looking at a payout of $1.3 million. You can only see the model's NBA picks at SportsLine.
Top NBA picks for Thursday, April 2
After simulating every game 10,000 times, one of the NBA parlay legs the model is backing is Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell to be the top scorer in Cavs vs. Warriors (+149). When these teams met in December, Mitchell (29) was the game's top scorer, with 10 more points than anyone else. On Thursday, he's projected for 25.7 points -- 6.8 points more than any other player -- versus a depleted Warriors team on the second night of a back-to-back. Golden State dressed just six active roster players in Wednesday's loss, plus three two-way players.
Mitchell's biggest competition to be the game's top scorer will likely come from teammates James Harden and Evan Mobley. But Harden is scoring 5.1 fewer ppg with Cleveland than earlier this year with the Clippers. Meanwhile, Mobley is coming off a 6-point outing, which is his second-fewest all season, while his 16 career ppg versus Golden State is his third-lowest versus any Western Conference team. SportsLine's model forecasts Mitchell (25.7 points projected) as the only player in this game to even reach 20 points. See which other NBA parlay picks to make on Thursday here.
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How to make NBA parlay picks for Thursday, April 2
The model also has locked in five more picks, including a pair of first scorer basket props that each return over +1500 in a longshot parlay that pays $1.3 million on just a $10 bet. You can only see the model's NBA parlay at SportsLine.
What are the model's top NBA parlay picks for Thursday that could unlock a $1.3 million payday on just a $10 bet? Visit SportsLine now to see NBA best bets from a model that's returned more than $10,000 on top-rated picks, and find out.
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