Rockets vs. Grizzlies prediction and odds for Wednesday, March 22 (Morant’s Return)
By Josh Yourish
We last saw Ja Morant on a basketball court on March 3, so it’s been a little while for the Memphis Grizzlies’ superstar point guard, but tonight he’s returning from his suspension to face the Houston Rockets at home. This is the definition of a soft landing for a player trying to ramp back up during a playoff run. The Grizzlies are 3.5 games behind Denver for first place in the Western Conference and Houston is a mere 30 games behind at 18-54, the worst record in the conference.
With their best player back on the floor, the Grizzlies are big home favorites, so let’s get into the odds for this Western Conference matchup.
Rockets vs. Grizzlies odds, spread and total
Rockets vs. Grizzlies prediction and pick
The best news for Memphis might not even be that Morant is coming back today, it’s that they’re at home. This team has the best net rating in the NBA in home games, 10.8, even better than Denver who is ahead of them in the West.
A lot of that has to do with their defensive effort at home compared to on the road. At home they have a defensive rating of 106.8 compared to a 113.2 rating in road games. They have the best home record in the league at 30-5 and a 21-13-1 record against the spread in Memphis.
In March, they also have unlocked a new offensive weapon in Morant’s stead. Jaren Jackson Jr. is already one of the best defensive players in the league, but this month he’s gone to another level offensively. On the season he’s averaging 17.7 points a game, on 12.6 shots, shooting 49.6% from the field. This month he’s averaging 21.5 points on 14.9 attempts, shooting 50.6% from the field. He’s going to another level right now and that makes Memphis scary the rest of the way.
The Rockets have no chance of hanging with the home Grizzlies, the road Grizzlies are a different story, but this is a perfect game for Morant to return and Memphis will cruise.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change