The Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers are both riding a losing streak as they prepare for their meeting in Portland's Moda Center on Friday. With that said, it’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Grizzlies-Blazers prediction and pick.

The Grizzlies are currently on a two-game losing streak. If the season ended right now, Memphis would have the eighth seed in the Western Conference and a record of 29-28. Meanwhile, the Blazers are sitting in the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 32-26 after having only won three of their last seven games despite supposedly being a team to make a deep playoff run.

Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Grizzlies-Blazers odds.

NBA Odds: Grizzlies-Blazers Odds

Memphis Grizzlies +3.5 (-108)

Portland Trail Blazers -3.5 (-112)

Over 232.5 Points (-110)

Under 232.5 Points(-110)

Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread

Injury Report: Jonas Valanciunas (out)

The Grizzlies are having a very solid season considering the fact that they have had to endure an injury to one of their talented young players in Jaren Jackson Jr. who made his return to the court on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

In that game, Jackson Jr. came off of the bench to put up 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in 18-minutes of action. From his stat line alone, it is easy to see how important Jackson Jr. is to this Memphis team on both ends of the floor.

Coach Taylor Jenkins' squad is currently ranked as the 14th best offense and 9th best defense in the league which should go up as Jackson Jr. sees more minutes on the floor.

With the return of Jackson Jr., it will definitely take some of the load off of Ja Morant offensively who is averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game this season. Morant’s stats don’t speak to the impact that he has on this team and how much better he makes the rest of the players on the team as six other players are averaging double-digits.

The key for the Grizzlies to cover the spread against the Blazers on Friday will not be on the offensive end of the floor but rather the defensive end of the floor as they will be matching up against the dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

Why The Blazers Could Cover The Spread

Injury Report: Zach Collins (out), Keljin Blevins (out), Derrick Jones Jr. (questionable)

Looking at the past 10 games for the Blazers, they have consistently defeated non-playoff teams—Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons—and lost to teams that are looking to make a deep playoff run such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The offense has not been the issue for the Blazers as they are currently ranked as the 6th best offensive team in the association. This doesn't come to anyone's surprise as they are being led by arguably the best backcourt in the league of Lillard and McCollum, who are combining for 51.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 12.4 assists per game.

Coach Terry Stotts has also been getting big minutes from their main rotation players, like Carmelo Anthony, Robert Convington, and Jusuf Nurkic, who are all averaging double digits for this team. The new addition of Normal Powell has also been giving the Blazers much production alongside Lillard and McCollum.
The key for the Blazers to cover the spread on Friday will then be on the defensive end of the floor and to stay attached to the main offensive weapon for the Grizzlies, Ja Morant, by forcing the ball out of his hands and making him take contested shots.

Final Grizzlies-Blazers Prediction & Pick

The Blazers are very talented offensively due to the lethal combination of Lillard and McCollum which should overwhelm the Grizzlies' defense as they will be without their starting center, Valanciunas, who is incredibly important to their team's defense. For these reasons, the Blazers should cover the spread on Friday and put an end to their current losing streak as they look to build some momentum before the playoffs begin.

FINAL GRIZZLIES-BLAZERS PREDICTION AND SCORE: MEM 106, POR 118 (POR -3.5)