The Houston Rockets (26-12) head to the Volunteer State to play the Memphis Grizzlies (18-22) at 8:00 p.m. ET in the FedEx Forum.
We analyze Rockets-Grizzlies odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Rockets at Grizzlies: Key injuries
ROCKETS
- C Clint Capela (heel) probable
- PF P.J. Tucker (shoulder) probable
- PG Russell Westbrook (rest) out
- SG Gerald Green (foot) out
- C Nene (groin) out
GRIZZLIES
- SF Jae Crowder (hip) questionable
- SF Kyle Anderson (foot) questionable
- PF Brandon Clarke (thumb) questionable
- SF Bruno Caboclo (knee) out
- SF Andre Iguodala (personal) out
Rockets at Grizzlies: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Rockets 128, Grizzlies 125
Moneyline (ML)
The 2019-20 Grizzlies are ballin’. They’ve won seven of their last 10 games, including five in a row. But the news is getting around the NBA that the Grizzlies are for real and it’s hard for them to sneak up on the current Western Conference 4-seed Rockets. A Houston squad that has played well recently as well—the Rockets are 7-3 straight up in their last 10 games.
Houston wins as away favorites, 9-5 straight up, but not against the bookmakers’ numbers, 5-9 against the spread. I do like the Rockets to win this game outright against the Grizzlies—watch for Harden to go off with Westbrook out and amidst legitimate hype about rookie PG Ja Morant—but the Rockets’ -209 moneyline is junk value.
PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Rockets -4.5 haven’t been money on the road as of late: they are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games and are 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Furthermore, the Rockets have a 1-3 record when laying 3-4.5 points whereas the Grizzlies are 4-2 when getting 3-4.5 points. The motivation of the young Grizzlies will keep this one close.
BET GRIZZLIES +4.5 (-106).
Over/Under (O/U)
Holy smokes, the 240.5 total is through the roof. Too high? Nah, let’s back that both teams get buckets and play mediocre, at best, defense. Houston is ranked first in points per game and Memphis ranks eighth, but Houston is ranked 15th in defensive rating and Memphis 22nd. Also, both teams play at a frenetic pace—Rockets are ranked second and the Grizzlies third in Pace.
The Grizzlies games tend to go Over. They have a 22-18 over/under record, and even though the Rockets games have gone Under a lot this season—17-21 over/under record—I envision a high scoring game with the Grizzlies keeping up with the explosive Rockets.
TAKE OVER 240.5 (-115).
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