Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Wednesday’s Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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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Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Wednesday’s Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers odds and lines, with NBA expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Portland Trail Blazers (1-2) host the Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) Wednesday for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off 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 lost a 121-118 thriller Sunday at the Los Angeles Lakers and covered as a 5-point underdog in its second straight game at Staples Center. The Grizzlies upset the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 Friday as 4-point underdogs and have covered in all three games this season.

Portland got crushed on the road Monday by the Clippers 116-86 and Damian Lillard has really struggled out the gate. Dame Time is averaging just 17.0 points per game (PPG) on 45.4% true shooting (.360/.083/.929) with 7.3 assists per game.

The Grizzlies won and covered against the Trail Blazers in two of their three regular-season meetings last year. Memphis guard Ja Morant has beaten Dame in three of their five all-time meetings and is 2-2-1 in their points scored comparison.

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 1:50 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Grizzlies +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Trail Blazers -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Grizzlies +2.5 (-108) | Trail Blazers -2.5 (-112)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 234.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)

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Grizzlies at Trail Blazers key injuries

Grizzlies

  • SF Dillon Brooks (hand) out

Trail Blazers

  • SF Norman Powell (knee) questionable
  • SF Tony Snell (foot) out

Grizzlies at Trail Blazers odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Grizzlies 118, Trail Blazers 112

Money line

GIMME the GRIZZLIES (+115) for a half unit because they have the best player on the floor and Memphis’s physical style plays better under the  NBA’s updated officiating compared to Portland’s finesse style of play.

The Grizzlies acquired big Steven Adams this offseason which automatically gives them an edge for interior presence and Morant attacks the basket with as much ferocity as anyone in the Association.

While I expect Dame to get it going offensively eventually, I also would bet that Morant takes his spot in this year’s NBA All-Star Game.

It’s only been three games, but Morant has the second-highest PER of any starter in the league (34.4) and Dame time is well behind him with a 13.6 PER.

I’m a huge fan of the pieces the Grizzlies have surrounded Morant with and when they get Brooks back they’ll be contending for a non-play-in postseason berth.

Against the spread

BET GRIZZLIES +2.5 (-108) for 1 unit until this number gets to 2 or lower then I’d just stick with Memphis’s money line.

This is a “Pros vs. Joe’s” game in the betting market with the presumed sharp money being on the Grizzlies and the public riding with the Heat, according to Pregame.com. Oddsmakers have reacted by taking Memphis down from a 4.5-point underdog on the opener to the current price.

Over/Under

PASS with a slight “lean” to the Under 234.5 (-115) since I have no real handicap on the Grizzlies-Trail Blazers total.

For what it’s worth, there appears to be “reverse line movement” in the betting market with a majority of the action being on the Over but the total has ticked down from the 235.5-point opener, according to Pregame.com.

However, these teams have a combined 5-1 O/U record thus far but the NBA has a league-wide 22-32 O/U since the start of the season, primarily because of the new officiating deterring unnatural offensive moves.

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

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Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

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Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Friday’s Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers NBA odds and lines, with basketball picks, tips and predictions.

The Memphis Grizzlies (29-28) travel to the “Rose City” Friday for their fifth of a seven-game road swing against the host Portland Trail Blazers (32-26). Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Moda Center. Below, we analyze the Grizzlies-Trail Blazers odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.

Memphis dropped its second straight Wednesday in a 117-105 loss to the Kawhi Leonard- and Paul George-less Los Angeles Clippers as 4.5-point road favorites.

Over the past two weeks, the Grizzlies are 3-5 overall and 5-3 against the spread. They sit at eighth in the West 2.5 games behind the 6-seed Blazers.

Portland has lost three straight and five of the past six games (3-3 ATS) including back-to-back 1-point home losses to the Los Angeles Clippers Monday and Denver Nuggets Tuesday.

The Blazers won two of three meetings last season against the Grizzlies but only covered in one of those games.

Grizzlies at Trail Blazers: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Grizzlies +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Trail Blazers -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Grizzlies +3 (-110) | Trail Blazers -3 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 232.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Grizzlies at Trail Blazers: Key injuries

Grizzlies

  • Jonas Valanciunas (concussion) out

Trail Blazers

  • PF Zach Collins (ankle) out
  • SF Derrick Jones Jr. (hip) questionable

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Grizzlies at Trail Blazers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Grizzlies 122, Trail Blazers 116

Money line (ML)

Slight “LEAN” to the GRIZZLIES (+125) for a quarter unit because I “like” Memphis plus the points and would like to sprinkle on the dog’s money line for a little more value.

The Blazers are 24th in defensive rebounding rate and 25th in second-chance points allowed per game whereas the Grizzlies have the sixth-highest offensive rebounding percentage and scores the most second-chance points per game.

Finally, Portland’s sixth-ranked offensive rating is a bit of “fool’s gold” in my opinion because it mostly plays iso-ball.

The Blazers have the lowest assist rate by 3.7 percentage points and with such little ball movement could be easier for a Grizzlies team ranked ninth in defensive rating to defend.

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Against the spread (ATS)

If it’s one or the other, the GRIZZLIES +3 (-110) is the preference. I’d put a full unit on Memphis to cover on top of the tiny wager on the money line.

This is a “good spot” for the Grizzlies since they are 11-6 ATS this season as a road dog with a plus-8.0-point ATS margin, 7-4 ATS vs. teams with a winning record and the Blazers are 8-12 ATS as a home favorite and 5-9 ATS at home vs. losing teams.

Furthermore, Memphis is 4-1 ATS when getting spotted 1-2.5 points while Portland is 3-5 ATS when laying points in that range.

Over/Under (O/U)

“LEAN” to the OVER 232.5 (-110) for a quarter unit because I prefer the side more than the total in Grizzlies-Trail Blazers, Memphis has gone Over the total in four straight as an underdog and Portland has the second-worst defensive rating in the Association.

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