The Memphis Grizzlies (1-3) meet the Charlotte Hornets (2-2) at the Spectrum Center on New Year’s Day for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Grizzlies-Hornets NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The final score of 126-107 made the Boston Celtics beatdown of the Grizzlies as 7-point road underdogs more competitive than it actually was. Memphis’ injury report is starting to mirror an NFL roster’s as the Grizzlies are down a slew of key contributors, including the reigning Rookie of the Year—Ja Morant—and dynamic stretch four in PF Jaren Jackson Jr.
Charlotte has won back-to-back games as huge underdogs against quality competition coming into Friday’s game. The Hornets beat the brakes off of the Dallas Mavericks 118-99 as 8.5-point ‘dogs Wednesday and won vs. a fully loaded Nets team in Brooklyn 106-104 as double-digit underdogs Dec. 27.
Memphis snapped Charlotte’s head-to-head five-game winning streak (both outright and ATS) heading into last season by beating the Hornets in both meetings.
Grizzlies at Hornets: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Grizzlies +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Hornets -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Grizzlies +4.5 (-115) | Hornets -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 219.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Grizzlies at Hornets: Key Injuries
Grizzlies
- SG Grayson Allen (ankle) questionable
- PG De’Anthony Melton (COVID) out
- PG Ja Morant (ankle) out
- PF Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) out
- SF Justise Winslow (hip) out
Hornets
- C Cody Zeller (hand) out
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Grizzlies at Hornets: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Hornets 112, Grizzlies 102
Money line (ML)
PASS ON THE MONEY LINE. I’m on the Hornets in this game, but I don’t like laying -150 or greater in NBA regular-season action. I wouldn’t rule out doing a little North/South Carolina parlay with the Hornets and Clemson Tigers’ money lines.
Against the spread (ATS)
According to Pregame.com, over 80% of the market is betting Charlotte so let’s follow the money BET HORNETS -4.5 (-105) for 2 units. I am buying Hornets stock for the season and project that they’ll be at least in the Eastern Conference postseason play-in tournament at the end of the year.
A lot of the NBA community needs to get over, for whatever reason, SF Gordon Hayward didn’t work out with the Boston Celtics. He is still an All-Star-caliber player who brings veteran leadership to a young Charlotte locker room.
Hornets PG Terry Rozier has been playing good basketball to start the season and should pad his stats against whoever Memphis is starting in place of an injured Morant. Also, SF Miles Bridges’ game has steadily improved since he won the 2020 Rising Stars MVP Award during last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend.
Over/Under (O/U)
Unlike the Charlotte side, which the market is in agreement on, we have a Pros vs. Joes scenario with the total in Grizzlies-Hornets: 82% of the money is on the Under but 56% of the tickets/bets are on the Over, according to Pregame.com.
Typically the sharp side is the money column and I’d assume the bettors hitting the Under have the same questions as me about how the banged-up Grizzlies are going to get buckets.
It’s only a lean but I’ll BET UNDER 219.5 (-110) for a quarter-unit.
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Hoops Hype:
- Miles Bridges on LaMelo Ball after historic night: ‘He’s the third pick for a reason’ (Lonzo Wire)
- Rumors: Grizzlies | Hornets
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