When the Rockets and Grizzlies last met on Thursday, Feb. 4 in Memphis, Houston won in a rout, finishing off a 7-1 stretch for the road team. Veteran guard John Wall led the way with 22 points and 8 assists, while rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate scored a career-high 19 points.
Oh, how things have changed. Since then, the Rockets are 0-10 — tracing back to the right ankle sprain that star center Christian Wood suffered in the second half of that game versus the Grizzlies. At 11-20, the Rockets currently have the worst record in the Southwest Division (where Memphis ranks third) and the second-worst in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies (14-15) are in possession of the No. 10 spot in the West, which would put them in position to earn the final spot of the play-in tournament for the 2021 playoffs. Thus, if Houston wants to keep hope alive of eventually getting back into the mix, Sunday’s game at Toyota Center would be a crucial one to win.
The bad news for the Rockets is that it’s the front end of a back-to-back, with Cleveland set to visit Houston on Monday night. Because of that, veteran guard Victor Oladipo will sit out Sunday for planned maintenance. Eric Gordon is likely to start in Oladipo’s place.
Rockets have ruled out Victor Oladipo from tomorrow night’s game vs Memphis, which is the first of a back-to-back. Looks like John Wall will sit vs Cleveland.
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 28, 2021
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Grizzlies -3.5 (-110), Rockets +3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Grizzlies -160/Rockets +135
- Over-under: 221.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: John Wall 24.5 (-120 O, -105 U), Eric Gordon 22.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Danuel House Jr. 13.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Jae’Sean Tate 12.5 (-105 O, -120 U), PJ Tucker 5.5 (-115 O, -110 U); Ja Morant 19.5 (-125 O, -105 U), Jonas Valanciunas 17.5 (+100 O, -130 U), Dillon Brooks 15.5 (-115 O, -110 U), K. Anderson 12.5 (-120 O, -105 U)
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Sunday’s starters for the Grizzlies are expected to be Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and Jonas Valanciunas. Meanwhile, Stephen Silas will likely counter with John Wall, Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate, Danuel House Jr. and PJ Tucker for the Rockets.
Advice and prediction
Memphis enters with three losses in its last four games, with all three coming by double digits. Thus, the Grizzlies will be highly motivated to make amends and hold their position for a potential play-in spot.
Prediction: 112-107, Grizzlies
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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