The Memphis Grizzlies (2-0) play their second straight game at the Staples Center Sunday when they meet the Los Angeles Lakers (0-2) for a 9:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the Grizzlies vs. Lakers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Memphis upended the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 Saturday in its first game at Staples Center. Every Grizzly in the Memphis’s starting 5 scored at least 17 points and Ja Morant had team-highs in points (28) and assists (8).
The Lakers got drubbed in their first two games and both were more lopsided affairs than the final score indicates. L.A. got rolled by the Phoenix Suns 115-105 as a 2-point home favorite Friday and was beaten 121-114 by the Golden State Warriors in its season-opener Tuesday.
L.A. won all three and covered two regular-season meetings with Memphis last season. The Grizzlies are 1-6 overall and 3-4 against the spread (ATS) versus the Lakers since drafting Morant in 2019.
Grizzlies at Lakers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Grizzlies +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Lakers -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Grizzlies +4.5 (-102) | Lakers -4.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Grizzlies at Lakers key injuries
Grizzlies
- SG Dillon Brooks (hand) doubtful
Lakers
- SF Trevor Ariza (ankle) out
- SG Wayne Ellington (hamstring) out
- SF Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb) out
- SG Kendrick Nunn (knee) out
Grizzlies at Lakers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Grizzlies 116, Lakers 106
Money line
Slight “LEAN” to the GRIZZLIES (+165) for a tiny wager only because I love Memphis getting points in this spot.
At best, the Lakers need time to incorporate their new pieces with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. At worst, this was a poorly built team that’s going to struggle to make the playoff play-in tournament.
I lean towards the latter because the Lakers failed to surround LeBron with 3-point specialists this offseason and this roster has a very low defensive ceiling as currently built. L.A. needs AD to become the best defensive player in the Association.
Maybe this is an overreaction but I don’t like what I’m seeing in “LaLa Land” especially after watching the Suns-Lakers game Friday.
AD and first-year Lakers big Dwight Howard got into a minor altercation on the bench Friday, Lakers’ returnee Rajon Rondo had a back-and-forth with a fan courtside and LeBron was chirping with Suns backup PG Cameron Payne.
This is all narrative and LeBron feeds off naysayers in the media. However, I’m buying stock in Memphis and there’s a solid chance a GRIZZLIES (+165) ticket cashes Sunday night.
Against the spread
Definitely BET GRIZZLIES +4.5 (-102) heavier than or instead of Memphis’s money line.
There’s no one on the Lakers that can stay in front of Morant. He’s going to get into the mid-range or to the basket and collapse L.A.’s defense all game long.
We also have “reverse line movement” (RLM) in the betting market, according to Pregame.com. More than 75% of the money wagered is on the Lakers at the time of publishing, but L.A. has been reduced from a 6.5-point favorite to the current price.
It makes sense that one of the most popular teams in American sports with LeBron would be heavily bet. What doesn’t make sense is why the sportsbooks are making the more popular side cheaper. Well, it kind of makes sense. The RLM tells me the House wants more pro-Lakers bets.
GRIZZLIES +4.5 (-102) is my favorite play in this game.
Over/Under
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Under 224.5 (-108) because this Lakers offense is really disorganized thus far. LeBron and AD have looked awesome through two games but the Lakers essentially waved the white flag mid-way through the fourth quarter of both losses.
However, there’s been sharp line movement towards the Over and the total is up from the 221-point opener. I’d rather just hammer the Memphis sides than play the total in this contest.
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