The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t have Ja Morant ono Sunday night against Utah, but they didn’t miss him in that one. They won it 123-118 behind 24 points and nine assists from Desmond Bane. Memphis is tied with Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference at 26-13 and both teams are 16-3 at home and 10-10 on the road. So, it’s good to get the Grizzlies at home even if Ja Morant misses a second straight game.
They’ll host the 13-27 San Antonio Spurs who are getting worse day-by-day and injury by injury. Devin Wassell is out and Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson are day-to-day. Even with all three out on Saturday, they hung with Boston, but lost 121-116.
This is the first of two matchups between the Spurs and Grizzlies in Memphis. Let’s get into the odds for tonight.
Spurs vs. Grizzlies Odds, Spread and Total
Spurs vs. Grizzlies Prediction and Pick
It’s tough to know who of Ja Morant, Keldon Johnson, and Jakob Poetl will play tonight, so that makes handicapping the game more difficult, but uncertainty is an advantage for San Antonio in my opinion. The Grizzlies are still very good without Morant on the floor, but they’re on the second night of a back-to-back with another game at home against the Spurs looming on Wednesday. It feels like a recipe for the Grizzlies to come out a little flat.
The Spurs have the worst defensive rating in the NBA, so points will be scored in this one, regardless of if Morant can go. Memphis is actually second in defensive rating and the Grizzlies have been playing at a fast pace lately.
Over their last three games, they’re averaging 108.7 possessions per game which would be No. 1 in the league this season and is second to Golden State over that stretch. Because of that pace and the Spurs league-worst defense, I like the over tonight. I’m not sure that Memphis will play to like the team with the second-best defensive rating on the second night of a back-to-back with maybe the worst team in the league in town for two games. I worry that the Grizzlies let the Spurs stay in the game and don’t feel good about them covering the 11.5, but I know they’ll be able to score.
It used to be the grit and grind in Memphis, but this version of the team is playing like the run and gun Grizzlies right now.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change