The Memphis Grizzlies will take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Grizzlies-Pelicans prediction and pick.
These two teams have had vastly different seasons. The Grizzlies are one of the most surprising teams in the league, as they've earned an impressive 40-18 record over the course of the year. Star point guard Ja Morant has led his team to the third seed in the Western Conference, and there's a good chance that Morant and the Grizzlies continue to improve over the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, New Orleans has a 23-34 record while sitting in the 11th seed in the conference. It has been a tough season for the Pelicans, especially since Zion Williamson hasn't played, but they've picked things up a bit over the course of the season after a truly brutal start and just traded for CJ McCollum as a boost.
Here are the Grizzlies-Pelicans NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Grizzlies-Pelicans Odds
Memphis Grizzlies: -4.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans: +4.5 (-110)
Over: 228.5 (-110)
Under: 228.5 (-110)
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Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread
The Grizzlies have pretty much every single statistical advantage in this contest, especially on the defensive side. Memphis hasn't been particularly good on that end of the floor, but the Pelicans have been absolutely awful on offense. New Orleans ranks inside the bottom 10 in the NBA in nearly every single offensive category, including points per game, shooting percentage, and shooting efficiency. Memphis shouldn't have any trouble getting stops in this one, though the addition of McCollum gives them a bit more firepower.
Momentum is certainly heading in the Grizzlies' direction in this contest. Memphis is 8-1 in its last nine contests, including wins over the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets. New Orleans is 5-6 in its last 11 games, with one of those losses coming against the lowly San Antonio Spurs. There is a clear talent differential between these teams, and it should be reflected in this contest.
Why The Pelicans Could Cover The Spread
As we approach midseason, injuries become a factor for every team. The Grizzlies are obviously no exception. Ja Morant is questionable for this contest, and center Xavier Tillman has already been ruled out of this game. Tillman doesn't play much of a role in this contest, but Morant leads Memphis in points per game and assists per game. Morant's absence could be enough to allow the Pelicans to cover and potentially upset the Grizzlies.
This Grizzlies team may seem like a dominant offensive force, but their numbers on that end of the floor are reliant on a few key factors. Memphis is fantastic at pushing the pace and scoring on fast breaks, which is good news for the Pelicans. New Orleans has been surprisingly solid at limiting fast-break points, only allowing 10 per game. They also hold their opponents to 85 shot attempts per game, one of the best numbers in the NBA. The Grizzlies also rely a lot on Morant to get into the paint, so, again, him sitting out or even being limited would be a huge help.
Final Grizzlies-Pelicans Prediction & Pick
This is a great spot to pick the Pelicans. With Morant's status up in the air and the Pelicans' defensive advantage, they should manage to pull off a cover here.
Final Grizzlies-Pelicans Prediction & Pick: New Orleans Pelicans +4.5 (-110)
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