The 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies host the 1-seed Utah Jazz on Saturday at FedExForum in Game 3 of their Western Conference First Round playoff series, with things all squared up at one. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Jazz-Grizzlies odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
Utah evened the series with a double-digit Game 2 blowout, 141-129, covering as 10-point home favorites despite Memphis outscoring the Jazz 43-29 in the third quarter and bringing the game within a few buckets.
It was Jazz All-Star PG/SG Donovan Mitchell‘s first game in the series after a controversial pre-game scratch for Game 1.
Mitchell immediately made a difference, scoring a team-high 25 points on 55.3% effective field goal shooting.
Grizzlies second-year phenom, PG Ja Morant, continued to assert his will on the Jazz, dropping a franchise-record 47 points on 57.7% shooting with 7 assists.
Jazz at Grizzlies: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:32 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Jazz -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Grizzlies +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread/ATS: Jazz -5 (-110) | Grizzlies +5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 224.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Jazz at Grizzlies: Key injuries
Jazz
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
Grizzlies
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
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Jazz at Grizzlies: Odds, lines, predictions, and picks
Prediction
Jazz 122, Grizzlies 114
Money line (ML)
PASS even though I feel Utah should win because Morant has been able to get anywhere on the floor he’s wanted through two games, thus making Jazz (-210) a little too expensive.
Utah’s offensive precision was surgical in Game 2, setting a franchise playoff record for points scored despite scoring just three fast-break points and five points off of turnovers.
The Jazz shot 65% effective field goal percentage and seven of the nine Utah players that ran in Game 2 scored at least 14 points. It was an offensive clinic by the Jazz.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Slight “LEAN” to the JAZZ -5 (-110) for a quarter unit, because the five points could be covered easily in final-minute free throws, and Utah’s depth is crushing Memphis.
Morant and SG Dillon Brooks aren’t getting enough help from the Grizzlies’ supporting cast, especially the other backcourt players, none of which are scoring more than 6.5 points per game.
Memphis big Jonas Valančiūnas has been playing okay but Utah’s C Rudy Gobert‘s defense has been more impactful, while PF/C Jaren Jackson shot poorly in Utah (35.7% field goal shooting and 28.6% from three in this series).
Over/Under (O/U)
BET the OVER 224.5 (-110) for 1 unit because I expect the Grizzlies’ role players to have better shooting performances in Memphis, coupled with Utah’s offense looking unstoppable with Mitchell back in the lineup.
Six of the past seven Jazz-Grizzlies meetings have gone Over the total and Memphis’s offense can somewhat keep up with the Jazz. What the Grizzlies lack in outside shooting they make up in hustle and aggressiveness.
For instance, Memphis leads the postseason in fast-break points per game and is third in both points off of turnovers and paint points per game. Also, both teams are in the top-4 of FTA/FG rate and tied for 5th in pace in the playoffs.
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