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The Memphis Grizzlies is on the third of a four-game road trip as they head into Atlanta for a showdown with the Atlanta Hawks. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Grizzlies-Hawks prediction and pick.
Ja Morant is back after missing a game with back soreness. Now he faces a Hawks team where he suffered a different injury a few months ago. In that game, he exited the game with an injured left knee. That injury forced Morant to miss a few weeks and was a big reason the Hawks decimated the Grizzlies 132-100 in the first matchup. The Grizzlies did well despite not having Morant. Despite his absence, they won their last game, pounding the Indiana Pacers 135-102. Desmond Bane led the way with 21 points on 7 for 12 shooting, including 4 for 7 from the 3-point line. Jaren Jackson added 19 points on 8 for 16 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds. De'Anthony Melton came off the bench flying, scoring 18 points on 7 for 14 shooting, going 4 for 8 from the triples. Memphis sits second in the Western Conference, just a game ahead of Golden State.
The Hawks are coming off a 116-106 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The loss snapped a brief three-game winning streak. Trae Young struggled in this match scoring just nine points on 3 for 12 shooting, including an awful 0 for 6 shooting from the 3-point line. Because of this, the Hornets controlled the tempo and dominated the paint. Charlotte outscored Atlanta 60-48 in the paint. Young was unable to contribute. This was a stark contrast to his previous two games, where he put up 46 and 47 points, respectively. Therefore, they need Young to pick it up. The Hawks are looking to sweep the season series and gain some momentum as they hang onto the final play-in seed in the Eastern Conference.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Grizzlies-Hawks NBA odds:
NBA Odds: Grizzlies-Hawks Odds
Grizzlies: -5 (-110)
Hawks: +5 (-110)
Over: 237.5 (-110)
Under: 237.5 (-110)
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Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread
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Memphis has so much firepower that they can strike from anywhere on the floor. Getting Morant back gives them the extra boost. He is leading the team in scoring as he averages 27.5 points per game. In addition to Morant, the Grizzlies have other additional playmakers ready to roll. Bane is averaging 17.9 points per game. Steven Adams has brought down the boards, grabbing 9.9 rebounds per game. Likewise, they have had great bench play with the emergence of Melton.
As a result of this, the Grizzlies have so many options. It has helped them excel on the road, where they are 24-12. They have scored all over the floor, and are currently the top-ranked team in points across the league. In addition to scoring, Memphis ranks first in rebounds and blocks. Adams and Melton have been the stars in this category, and both are essential at pulling down boards and preventing the opposition from shooting.
The Grizzlies will win this game if they play to their strengths. Morant is fired up and ready to go, and that could open up other players to do damage against Atlanta.
Why the Hawks Could Cover The Spread
Atlanta still has spectacular talent despite their 34-35 record. They also thrive at home, where they are 22-13 on the season. Young is the catalyst here. He is averaging 28.0 points per game and has also distributed the rock well, putting up 9.5 assists per game. Often, when he gets hot, the Hawks follow. This was evident by the two games where he scored 40 plus points, and the Hawks won. Young needs to carry the Hawks on his back and make his shots from beyond the arc. On the year, he is shooting 38 percent from the 3-point line. Therefore, he needs to hit his shots, which allows others on his team to contribute.
In their previous matchup with the Grizzlies, Young led the pack with 31 points on 12 for 16 shooting. Clint Capela added 28 points on 11 for 14 shooting, while pulling down 17 rebounds. John Collins was the third star in that game, scoring 21 points on 8 for 11 shooting from the field. Collins suffered a finger injury on March 7 and now is out indefinitely with a plantar fascia tear. He was averaging 16.2 points per game and pulling down 7.8 rebounds per game before his injury. To compensate for the loss of Collins, Danilo Gallinari has stepped up. But he is also dealing with aches and pains, as he is a game-time decision with a biceps injury. For the Hawks to cover, they need Young and Capela at their best.
Final Grizzlies-Hawks Prediction & Pick
The Hawks are trying to sweep the Grizzlies, but Memphis will have Morant available. The Grizzlies look to control the battle of the boards and contain Young. Atlanta is dealing with some injuries, but they have shown resilience through adversity. The home-court gives them some advantage, but not enough to outright win. I do believe this game will go down to the wire. The Hawks will cover the spread.
Final Grizzlies-Hawks Prediction & Pick: Hawks +5 (-110)
