The Memphis Grizzlies (21-21) remain on the road to play the Utah Jazz (33-11) for the second straight day Saturday with a 9 p.m. ET tip-off at Vivint Arena. Below, we analyze the Grizzlies-Jazz odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Memphis had a three-game win streak snapped by Utah in a 117-114 loss Thursday. The Grizzlies clawed back from a 21-point deficit to sneak in the backdoor and cover the spread as 10-point underdogs.
Utah won its fourth game in a row and is 6-2 straight up but only 3-5 against the spread since the All-Star break. The Jazz are pummeling foes at home with a plus-13.4-point margin of victory and winning 18 straight games in Utah.
Utah is 4-1 straight up and 3-2 ATS vs. Memphis since the Grizzlies drafted PG Ja Morant in 2019.
Grizzlies at Jazz: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Grizzlies +350 (bet $100 to win $350) | Jazz -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Grizzlies +9.5 (-110) | Jazz -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 227.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Grizzlies at Jazz: Key injuries
Grizzlies
- PF Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) out
Jazz
- Nothing affecting the betting odds.
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Grizzlies at Jazz: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Grizzlies 117, Jazz 113
Money line (ML)
PASS with a slight lean toward Grizzlies (+350) because I like Memphis plus the points and it’s been tough for teams to beat opponents in back-to-back games; however, fading the Jazz at home this season would’ve depleted your bankroll.
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Against the spread (ATS)
GIMME the GRIZZLIES +9.5 (-110) for 1.25 units.
Memphis has much better ball security than Utah, who is 20th in offensive turnover rate and has the lowest defensive turnover rate in the Association. The Grizzlies turn the ball over at the fifth-lowest rate and force the second-highest rate of turnovers.
The main area I could see some improvement for Memphis in this game would be the matchup between centers.
Jazz C Rudy Gobert outscored Grizzlies C Jonas Valančiūnas 25-14 and held him to 35.7% shooting, which is more of an outlier performance for Gobert when you look at the head-to-head history of the two.
Also, this is a Pros vs. Joes scenario in the betting market with more money coming in on Memphis but more bets have been placed on Utah, according to Pregame.com.
The money column is usually considered the sharp side of the market whereas the tickets column represents the average joe. Obviously, it’s better to roll with the sharps than Barney at the Bar.
BET GRIZZLIES +9.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS with a LEAN toward Over 227.5 (-110) because the scoring was a little top-heavy for both teams last night and I expect some of the role players to have better shooting days.
Also, there was a pretty good pace to yesterday’s game with the Grizzlies attempting 97 shots (averaging an NBA-high 92.1 field-goal attempts per game) and the Jazz put up 98 shots (averaging 88.3 field goal attempts per game).
There just isn’t enough margin between my predicted score and BetMGM‘s projected total for me to wager on it.
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Also see:
- Bet Slippin’ Podcast: 2021 MLB National League Betting Preview
- Hoops Hype rumors: Grizzlies | Jazz
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