The Golden State Warriors visit FedExForum Tuesday to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Warriors vs. Grizzlies odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Warriors won the opener 117-116 Sunday.
PG Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in Game 1, scoring 34 points. PF Jaren Jackson Jr. was also incredible, scoring a season-high 33, including six 3’s to match a season-high.
Despite four-time All-Star PF Draymond Green being ejected in the second quarter, the Warriors still came out on top as SG Jordan Poole scored a team-high 31 points.
The Warriors failed to cover as 1.5-point favorites Sunday, dropping their ATS (against the spread) record as road favorites to 11-14-2. The Grizzlies are 8-3 ATS as home underdogs, the fourth-best covering rate in the league.
Warriors at Grizzlies odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:31 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Warriors -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Grizzlies +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread: Warriors -1.5 (-120) | Grizzlies +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Warriors at Grizzlies key injuries
Warriors
- F Andre Iguodala (cervical) out
- SG Klay Thompson (knee) probable
Grizzlies
- C Steven Adams (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Desmond Bane (back) questionable
- SG Ziaire Williams (knee) questionable
[tipico]
Warriors at Grizzlies picks and predictions
Prediction
Grizzlies 114, Warriors 111
Money line
BET GRIZZLIES (+105).
While there was quite a scene made around Green getting ejected, that may have lit a spark in the Warriors in the second half of Game 1.
While the Warriors averaged the second-most turnovers (14.9 per game) in the NBA this season, their inability to keep the ball should continue to play a factor as they lost the turnover battle 17-14 in Game 1 – Green had 5 turnovers before his ejection.
Poole shooting 60% (12-for-20) likely won’t be repeated, especially against Memphis’ top-6 defense. I also wouldn’t expect to see Grizzlies SF Dillon Brooks struggle as heavily as he did in the opener where he was 3-for-13 from the field.
Look for the Oregon Ducks product to bounce back in Game 2 just as he did in first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After going 3-for-18 in a Game 5 win against Minnesota, he responded with 23 points in Game 6’s clincher.
Game 1 of this series came down to the wire. Quite a bit when right for the Warriors, especially considering they won the rebounding battle 51-47.
Expect turnovers and rebounds to be a bigger storyline and the Grizzlies to come out on top in Game 2.
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Against the spread
PASS.
I like the Grizzlies +1.5 (-105) to come out on top. However, their plus-money value on the money line is what I’d prefer to play instead of only getting 1.5 points.
Over/Under
LEAN to the UNDER 227.5 (-110).
Nothing really changed between these two teams, although two key players showed up on the injury report. Furthermore, sportsbooks got a peek at what the pace would be like which was frantic. The 117-116 Game 1 final eclipsed the Over 224 line by 9 points.
With both teams top-6 in defensive rating on the season, they should be better at limiting the other as both shot over 43% from the field and 36% from deep.
Odds are Green won’t get ejected again, so he should have a greater impact for the Warriors’ defense. Couple that with likely increased minutes for Warriors SG Gary Payton II, who has been the primary defender on Morant, and both teams should find it more difficult to score.
Lastly, 91% of the cash is on the Over, per pregame.com. The sportsbooks aren’t going to get burned that badly. Combine it all, and the Under seems like a strong play.
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