The Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Indiana Pacers in a cross-conference battle on Tuesday. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Grizzlies-Pacers prediction and pick.
The Grizzlies have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA so far. Memphis has earned a fantastic 47-22 record on the year, which is good for the second seed in the hotly contested Western Conference. They'll look to keep that success going against an Indiana team that hasn't been nearly as good as them.
The Pacers are 23-46, a record that makes them one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. While their record isn't great, Indiana has managed to hang around with some tough teams this season. Let's see if they can do it again here against Memphis.
Here are the Grizzlies-Pacers NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Grizzlies-Pacers Odds
Memphis Grizzlies: -7.5 (-106)
Indiana Pacers: +7.5 (-114)
Over: 234.5 (-110)
Under: 234.5 (-110)
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread
The Memphis offense should cause a variety of problems in this matchup. The Grizzlies score a whopping 114 points per game while shooting the most shots per game in the league. The pace they play at is a problem for almost everyone, including the Pacers. Indiana is a bottom-10 team when it comes to stopping the fast break, and they nearly commit 15 turnovers per contest. They also allow the fourth-most points in the paint per game, and the Grizzlies are the best team in the league at scoring at the rim. This is a dream matchup for the Memphis offense.
It's late in the season, which means that injuries are a problem around the league. The Pacers are no exception. Starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon is questionable with a concussion, while backups Chris Duarte, Lance Stephenson, and Giga Bitadze are all questionable with a variety of injuries. Some of those guys are bound to miss this contest, which will seriously affect Indiana's depth. The Pacers aren't a particularly stacked team to begin with, so any injury forces guys like Duane Washington Jr. and Terry Taylor into action. That won't work against one of the best teams in the NBA.
Why The Pacers Could Cover The Spread
The Grizzlies have largely avoided injury this season, but they'll be missing a crucial player in this game. Superstar point guard Ja Morant is unlikely to play because of a back injury. Morant is obviously the captain of this team, as he leads his squad in points per game and assists per game. He's also fantastic at running the floor and keeping the blistering pace the Grizzlies play with. Memphis will feel Morant's absence here.
Home-court advantage will certainly play into the outcome of this game. The Pacers have been terrible everywhere, but they have been better when playing at home. Indiana is 15-19 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and 8-27 anywhere else. It's clear the Pacers are far more comfortable at home than they are on the road. The Grizzlies are slightly worse on the road as well, earning a 65% winning percentage away from home and a 70% winning percentage on their turf.
Final Grizzlies-Pacers Prediction & Pick
Even without Morant, it's surprising that this spread is so small. The Grizzlies have a perfect matchup against an injured, less talented Pacers team. Lock in Memphis in this game.
Final Grizzlies-Pacers Pick: Memphis Grizzlies: -7.5 (-106)
Follow Us
Subscribe