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The Memphis Grizzlies will pay a visit to Spectrum Center to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes our Grizzlies-Hornets prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
The Grizzlies are in the midst of a relatively easy stretch in their schedule. As a result, they have won four straight games. Memphis has won its last three outings by at least 20 points, the latest being a 25-point drubbing over the lowly Detroit Pistons. They have also scored at least 132 in each of them. The Grizzlies (39-18) are locked in as the third seed in the Western Conference. They have a 3.5-game edge of the no. 4 seed Utah Jazz.
Meanwhile, Charlotte's most recent outing also came against Detroit and they handled the Pistons pretty easily as well (141-119). The Hornets needed that victory badly as they went on a 6-game losing streak prior to that. They went on a brutal stretch where they faced the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Chicago Bulls, all of which are playoff contenders in the East.
Looking ahead, this should be an electric matchup between Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball, two of the most exciting young guards in the NBA. Both made the All-Star team for the first time in their careers. With his spectacular campaign, Morant earned the starting nod and will play for Team Durant. Ball, meanwhile, made it through the replacement route, taking the injured Kevin Durant's spot. He will play for Team KD as well.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Grizzlies–Hornets NBA odds for this Saturday afternoon NBA matchup.
NBA odds: Grizzlies–Hornets Odds
Memphis Grizzlies: -6.5 (-114)
Charlotte Hornets: +6.5 (-106)
Over: 239 (-110)
Under: 239 (-110)
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Why the Grizzlies could cover the spread
The Memphis Grizzlies are rolling over the past two weeks. Their lone defeat in the last eight games came in an overtime defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers. They have won their last four by an average of 20.8 points and are slowly separating themselves from the Jazz in the Western Conference standings.
Ja Morant continues to put up ridiculous numbers as he continues his ascension to superstar. The third-year guard is averaging 26.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists this season. Over this stretch of eight games where Memphis has gone 7-1, his scoring has gone up to 31.4 points while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.
Dillon Brooks is still on the sidelines with an ankle injury that he suffered in early January. Brooks initially had a 3-to-5 week timeline but is reportedly behind schedule. Memphis recently reported that they expect Brooks to return sometime in March. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies don't seem to be missing the services of one of their top defensive players. They continue to roll in the standings and hold the 7th best defense in the NBA.
Aside from Brooks, Memphis will also be without Xavier Tillman. The 23-year old is dealing with right thigh soreness and will miss his third straight outing against the Hornets.
The Grizzlies have been just as good on the road (19-9) as they are at home (20-9). They are also 12-7 against Eastern Conference teams. Memphis also holds terrific records against the spread (38-19) and on the moneyline (39-18), while their over/under record is at 30-26.
Why the Hornets could cover the spread
The Hornets are coming off a much-needed victory over the Detroit Pistons. They lost six in a row prior to their 21-point win on Friday. All-Star guard LaMelo Ball led the way with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Terry Rozier notched a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Trade deadline acquisition Montrezl Harrell also made his Charlotte debut and tallied 15 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Harrell should provide the Hornets a nice boost off the bench with his energy and intensity.
Gordon Hayward is still out after he suffered a scary ankle injury in their game against the Toronto Raptors this past Monday. The veteran forward is reportedly out indefinitely with the injury. The Hornets have yet to release an official injury report for Saturday's game, but it's worth noting that Cody Martin (ankle/achilles soreness) and Jaden McDaniels (ankle sprain) missed Friday's game against Detroit.
Despite their recent slide, the Hornets are still within reach for the 8th spot in the East standings. At 29-28, they are just one game behind the slumping Brooklyn Nets. Charlotte is just 14-12 at home and 10-11 against West teams. They are 31-25 against the spread, 29-28 on the moneyline, and 27-29 on over/under.
Final Grizzlies–Hornets Prediction & Pick
Memphis should be the safer bet here. The 7-point spread should be an easy cover for a team that has won by double-digits over its last six games. They've been rolling over the last couple of weeks, while Charlotte only notched a win over the lowly Pistons. The Hornets will also be without a key veteran in Hayward. In nine games, they have a 3-6 record with the 31-year old.
Final Grizzlies–Hornets Prediction & Pick: Grizzlies: -6.5 (-114)
