Saturday night will showcase two playoff teams from last season. The Memphis Grizzlies will travel west to face the Los Angeles Clippers. It's time to continue our NBA Odds series with a Grizzlies-Clippers prediction based on Grizzlies Clippers odds.
The Memphis Grizzlies are fresh off a fantastic first game of the season in the win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The shots were all falling as the team scored 132 points in regulation. They will get a tough test Saturday as they head to Staples Center to face the Clippers, who will be without star Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard will miss some time to start the season as he recovers from a knee injury. LA lost a close game 1 to the Golden State Warriors, as Steph Curry dropped 45 points in the win. Paul George scored 29 and kept them in the game. George helped take this team to the Western Conference Finals this past year. Many counted that team out when Leonard went down, but George stepped up in a major way. On to the 2021-22 season, this matchup between the Grizzlies and Clippers should be an exciting one to watch.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Grizzlies-Clippers odds for this Saturday matchup.
NBA Odds: Grizzlies-Clippers Odds
Memphis Grizzlies: +4.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers: -4.5 (-110)
Over 226.5 points (-108)
Under 226.5 points (-112)
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Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread
Memphis is a team on the rise this season. Ja Morant is one of the better young point guards in the game and will look to take his team to the playoffs once again. The roster is filled with a majority of younger players but does carry a few veterans to even it out. Morant scored 37 points in the win over the Cavs. He looked unstoppable shooting 17-29 with six rebounds and six assists. If he is going to produce like that on a nightly basis then this team is going to trend upward for a long time.
They got solid production from guards Desmond Bane and De'Anthony Melton who both scored at least 20 points in the win. Steven Adams grabbed 14 rebounds, but hope to get better numbers from Jaren Jackson Jr. It was just game one, but this roster looks to be improved from last year.
If the Grizzlies are going to cover, then they will need to find a way to contain Paul George. The Clippers are still a good team without Kawhi Leonard, so it's not going to be easy on them. The offense will need to continue to knock down shots and Morant will need to be on his game. The Clippers' defense is still very good, so this will be a tough test for Morant and the Grizzlies.
Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
If the Clippers are playing their best then they can beat anyone in the league. They proved that last year by getting to the Western Conference Finals. The roster isn't fully set without Leonard, but the roster is filled with solid defenders. The entire starting five against the Warriors can defend well, so this is a good matchup against a Grizzlies team that is filled with young talent. Both of these teams have a lot to prove despite reaching the playoffs last year.
If the Clippers are going to cover, then they need to play a similar game as they did against the Warriors. Guarding Steph Curry is an impossible task, and he scored 45 against the Clippers. Morant is a different type of guard but it is still one to light up the arena.
If the Clippers can find a way to stop Morant then that should be a major factor in winning. Curry is the main reason why the Clippers aren't 1-0 to start the year. The Clippers will need Marcus Morris Sr., and Reggie Jackson to step up in a major way if they want to cover the spread. Morant and the Grizzlies are going to be right in this game and it could go down to the wire.
Final Grizzlies-Clippers Prediction & Pick
I don't think the Grizzlies are going to put up 132 points again, but I do believe they will win. The Clippers are going to defend well as they usually do, but Morant and the Grizzlies will show up and upset the Clippers in LA. I am favoring the over in this game as well. It's not necessarily going to be high scoring, but it is going to come down to the wire and I don't think much defense will be played late in the game.
Final Grizzlies-Clippers Pick: Grizzlies +4.5 (-110)
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