The Memphis Grizzlies (17-11) travel to the Rose City Wednesday for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off against the Portland Trail Blazers (11-17) at Moda Center. Below, we look at the Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Memphis has won eight of its past nine games (7-2 ATS), all since Ja Morant has been sidelined with an injury.
This month the Grizzlies have the best efficiency differential in the league (plus-17.7 points per 100 possessions) and the best defensive rating, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Portland lost its sixth straight game last night (Tuesday) against the Phoenix Suns 111-107 in overtime as 1.5-point home underdogs.
The Trail Blazers are winless in December (1-5 ATS) with the second-worst efficiency differential (minus-12.9 points per 100 possessions) and worst spread differential (minus-13.1).
Portland crushed Memphis 116-96 in their first meeting this season, Oct. 27.
Grizzlies at Trail Blazers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Grizzlies -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Trail Blazers +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Grizzlies -2.5 (-108) | Trail Blazers +2.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Grizzlies at Trail Blazers key injuries
Grizzlies
- PG Ja Morant (knee) out
- PF Brandon Clarke (knee) out
Trail Blazers
- SG C.J. McCollum (ribs) out
Grizzlies at Trail Blazers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Grizzlies 115, Trail Blazers 108
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” to the Grizzlies (-140) because I’d much rather take Memphis to win outright than lay the points. But, this money line is slightly too pricey for me, and I’ll chase the value with Memphis’ spread.
Against the spread
This feels like a trap spot for the Trail Blazers +2.5 (-112), who’ve been awesome at home most of the year, and are playing a GRIZZLIES -2.5 (-108) missing its best player.
Oddsmakers understand that Memphis is playing much better basketball at the moment, and this line suggests they are trying to entice more pro-Portland action.
Furthermore, in the first Grizzlies-Trail Blazers meeting this season, McCollum scored a game-high 25 points, and Morant had a game-high nine turnovers with a game-low minus-25 plus/minus.
Well, Portland’s offense is strictly Damian Lillard-centered at this point, and Memphis turns the ball over less with Morant off the floor.
However, we’ve seen all the complimentary Memphis players step up in the absence of Morant, and the Grizzlies’ defense has been insane recently.
Also, Portland is 5-7 ATS as a home underdog since the beginning of last season with a minus-6.4 spread differential.
On top of that, Memphis has a higher rebounding rate, a better turnover rate and forces more turnovers. Roll with the GRIZZLIES -2.5 (-108).
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the OVER 216.5 (-115) for a small wager because the first Grizzlies-Trail Blazers meeting this season had a 232.5-point total, and there has been too big of an adjustment for this game.
That said, I don’t love this pick because there has been “sharp line movement” towards the Under as the total opened at 220 and has been steamed down to the current number.
Also, despite Portland’s atrocious defense, the Trail Blazers are still 13-14-1 O/U so the oddsmakers have appropriately adjusted to Portland’s defensive horribleness.
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