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.
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