Clippers add sheer value to midweek pro-college parlay

With tons of NBA and college basketball games on Wednesday, picking two games to combine in a parlay might be easy, but picking the right two, well, that's not so easy. Fortunately for you, we found two games that make for a low-risk parlay. The odds line isn't quite +100, but -115 still isn't bad. 

Dallas already ruled Luka Doncic out for Wednesday's game against the Clippers, and Kyrie Irving is expected to make his Mavs debut tonight. Don't expect big things from Irving and the Mavericks quite yet. It's going to take some time for Irving to get comfortable with his new squad, and that's why we love the Clippers on the moneyline to kick off our parlay.

Kawhi Leonard is finally healthy, and he's starting to look like his old self. Leonard has scored at least 24 points in 13 of his last 14 games, and more importantly, his minutes are up. Following a right knee injury to start the season, Leonard was on a minutes restriction for most of December, but that's over now. Leonard is playing 35+ minutes a night, and the Clippers are benefiting from the veteran's increased playing time. 

Don't look now, but the Clippers are starting to move their way up the Western Conference standings, and Leonard is a big reason why. Los Angeles has won three of four and eight of its last 10 games and finally starting to look like an elite team. Meanwhile, Dallas is 10-17 on the road, and without Doncic and potentially Irving, the Mavs are going to have a hard time keeping up offensively with LA. Don't be surprised if this game is close through the first three quarters, but expect the Clips to pull away in the fourth. 

As for the final leg of our parlay, take St. Joseph's (+7.5) on the alternate spread line against Loyola Chicago. We wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks pull off the road upset, considering they beat the Ramblers by 31 points back in early January. But just to be safe, we're going to alter the spread line and take St. Joe's to lose by no more than seven. 

We know Loyola Chicago beat George Mason on Saturday, but the Ramblers have dropped nine of their last 11 games and are still dead last in the Atlantic 10. Loyola Chicago is still adjusting to the A10 after officially leaving the Missouri Valley Conference last year, and it's going to be a while before the Ramblers get comfortable. 

The Parlay: Los Angeles Clippers (moneyline) AND St. Joseph's Hawks (+7.5) (-115 odds via Barstool)

Bet $115 to win $100

In the news ... 

LeBron passes Kareem on all-time NBA scoring list — LeBron James scored 38 points on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder to pass Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's career scoring leader. James officially passed Kareem with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and now has 38,390 points. After the record-breaking shot, the game was temporarily stopped as James' family took the floor to congratulate him, followed by a video from the Lakers filled with highlights from James' 20-year career. Abdul-Jabbar, commissioner Adam Silver and James himself addressed the Lakers crowd at the Staples Center before play resumed. Despite James' record-breaking night, the Lakers still lost to the Thunder, 133-130, and are now five games below .500.

Durant, Nets to discuss franchise's direction — Kevin Durant requested a trade out of Brooklyn before the season started, and after the Nets officially traded All-Star Kyrie Irving to Dallas on Tuesday, sources say Durant is engaged in talks with the Nets' front office about the direction of the organization. Durant is currently out with a knee injury, and if the Nets want to deal Durant this season, they'd have to do it before the NBA trade deadline expires on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. The Nets are currently 32-22 and have 18/1 odds to win the NBA Finals. 

Rodgers to decide future after four-day darkness retreat — Aaron Rodgers made his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday, and said following the Super Bowl he's going to spend four days at a "darkness retreat." Following his retreat, Rodgers said he expects to decide whether or not he'll play in 2023. Despite Rodgers currently being under contract by the Packers, the Raiders (-390) are currently favored as the team for the future Hall of Fame quarterback to play for next season.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jared Shlensky