Jeff Benton
50 Dime Memphis
First off, this is an automatic play for one big reason: The Grizzlies, who last night went to Dallas and upset a Mavericks team that had won 18 of its last 19 games, are 14-3-1 ATS this year when playing back-to-back games. That is an astonishing accomplishment, and it includes a 105-101 overtime victory at Oklahoma City back on Feb. 8.
In fact, the Grizzlies have won two of the three meetings with the Thunder this season, including a 110-105 home victory as a one-point underdog in the year’s only previous clash in Memphis.
With last night’s 104-103 upset in Dallas, the Grizzlies are 16-5 SU in their last 21 games, going 7-2 ATS in their last nine. Even better than that, Memphis is an NBA-best 39-23-1 ATS, cashing in 18 of its last 26 contests.
Yes, Oklahoma City did escape Sunday with a 122-118 overtime victory over Phoenix (failing to cash as a six-point home favorite), and it was the Thunder’s third straight win. However, they’re still just 6-5 SU and 5-6 ATS going back to their Feb. 8 home loss to the Grizzlies. Additionally, they’ve lost three of the last four road games, part of a 7-9 record on the highway going back to Dec. 22.
Oklahoma City’s problem continues to be getting consistent stops on defense. The Thunder have allowed 104 points or more in four of their last six games, and 16 of their last 24 opponents have cleared the century mark. Additionally, over this 24-game stretch, Oklahoma City has surrendered an average of 104.8 points in 15 road games.
Now the Thunder are facing a Grizzlies’ squad that’s averaging 104.6 points in its last nine games, including scoring 116, 102, 120 and 109 in four home wins over Denver, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Antonio. But it’s not all about offense for Memphis, which prior to last night’s game at Dallas had held five straight opponents to 98, 93, 95, 92 and 95 points. And during their 15-6 run, the Grizzlies have surrendered 100 points or more just six times.
Finally, while the Thunder have been below average on the road over the past 2½ months, Memphis is 19-5 in its last 24 home games (including 7-2 in the last nine), and among those recent visitors who have left the FedEx Forum with a loss are the Lakers, Heat, Mavericks, Magic, Blazers, Nuggets, Spurs and Thunder.
Bottom line: Despite losing their most potent scorer (Rudy Gay) to an injury a couple of weeks ago, the Grizzlies continue to win and cover numbers – and they continue to do it against quality teams. And seeing that Gay didn’t play in last month’s five-point overtime victory at Oklahoma City, Memphis will go into tonight’s game very confident that it can beat the Thunder with the way its roster is currently constructed.
EZWinners
1* Wofford
Andy Faneli
50 Dime Houston
20 Dime Memphis
Jamie Tursini
Thunder at Grizzlies
Pick: Grizzlies -2
Both teams are off of games yesterday. The Thunder lost in OT at Phoenix 122-118. R.Westbrook played 40:52, and K.Durant played 44:51. The Grizzlies beat Dallas 104-103 on the road. With 0 days rest the Thunder lose on average 100.5 to 103.1. The Grizzlies win on average 99.5 to 96.6. I'll take the home team here thinking that OKC may be a bit more weary and not as interested here on the road.
Mike Lineback
Memphis
Maddux Sports
10 Units Gonzaga
MTi Sports
4* Magic
4* Mavericks
4* Clippers Over
Oskeim Sports
5* Old Dominion
Big Al
Mavericks
ATS Lock Club
3 Units Mid Tennessee State -4.5
Sports Bank
400 Memphis Over
Lenny Del Genio
New York Knicks -6
The Knicks won in Atlanta last night, beating the Hawks 92-79 installed as a 3.5-point dog. That brings New York's record to an underwhelming 4-3 SU (and ATS) since the Anthony trade as they have alternated wins and losses over those seven games. Consider that two of the losses came to Cleveland, a team they've lost to 11 straight times. Last night, Anthony actually played his worst game since coming over, scoring only 14 points. He was bothered by headaches and had to even take his headband off b/c it was "too tight" (seriously). However, the win was impressive when you consider they won in a tough venue w/ out PG Billups (knee), who HC Dantoni hopes to have back here. Even if they don't get Billups back, we like the Knicks in this spot as the Jazz continue to be a total mess. Utah has won just twice since the departure of HC Jerry Sloan and subsequent trade of PG Williams. They are only 2-8 ATS L10 games. Some of the pieces they acquired aren't good fits yet, most notably PG Harris and F Favors. They are dealing with injuries at the forward position with both Kirilenko and Milsap listed as questionable for tonight's game. Utah may have beaten New York four straight times, but that was a different team and the Knicks are actually 5-0 ATS L5 meetings and have revenge for a 131-125 loss as 6.5-point dogs back in January. New York is 10-3 ATS in the 2nd night of back to backs this year + 12-2 ATS off a road win. They are also 9-2 ATS off an outright win as a road underdog. Take New York.
Fairway Jay
Wofford
PPP
VA Commonwealth
Charleston
Iona