The Toronto Raptors are in Memphis to face the Grizzlies and Zach Kleiman, the Grizzlies’ general manager, should make sure that OG Anunoby doesn’t leave town. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the 24-30 Raptors are looking to blow it up and the 32-20 Grizzlies are looking to boost their championship odds with a deadline addition.
First, they need to take care of business on the court against Toronto, who is coming in off a win over Houston. The Grizzlies are heading in the wrong direction with back-to-back losses to Portland and Cleveland this week. Here are the odds for the Raptors and Grizzlies in Memphis today:
Raptors vs. Grizzlies odds, spread and total
Raptors vs. Grizzlies prediction and pick
The Grizzlies are getting thinner and thinner inside. Steven Adams is out long term with an injury and Jaren Jackson Jr. missed last game against Cleveland. JJJ is questionable today and so is Ja Morant who had 24, 8, and 8 on Thursday against the Cavs. It’ll matter a lot who actually takes the floor today for Memphis, but if Jackson Jr. is out, the Raptors still won’t be able to really take advantage.
Toronto is 28th in the NBA in two-point field goal percentage, so they won’t expose Memphis’ thin interior like Cleveland did with 64 points in the paint. Even with Pascal Siakam and all the length Toronto has, the team is only 13th in points in the paint in the league.
I expect either Morant or Jackson Jr. to play, if not both, but I also trust a Desmond Bane led Grizzlies team to win this one. So, I’m happy to take the Grizzlies and lay a few points with the uncertainty around their health.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change