Bettors Predict Sonics Will be The Best of The Worst in Memphis
65% of Bets Placed on Sonics +4 | Matchup | NBA Picks
Pau Gasol’s return hasn’t helped end the Memphis Grizzlies’ struggles. Ray Allen’s absence, meanwhile, is clearly hurting the Seattle SuperSonics.
The SuperSonics and Grizzlies will try to end long losing streaks when they meet Monday night in a matchup of the Western Conference’s two worst teams.
Oddsmakers have made Memphis -4 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at
186.5 total points (View NBA Sports Books).
Seattle (10-15) has lost the first four games of a five-game road trip and has dropped five straight on the road overall.
Seattle’s losing streak comes after it won its first three games without Allen, who suffered a bruised bone in his right foot. Allen, who leads the team with 25.3 points per contest, isn’t traveling with the team but is expected to be back on the floor in a week.
The Sonics were outrebounded 54-32, including 26-7 on the offensive glass, in a 97-93 loss to Detroit on Sunday.
“We just got absolutely manhandled on the boards and we gave them 20 more shots at the basket,” Sonics coach Bob Hill said.
Rashard Lewis led Seattle with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Chris Wilcox added 21 points.
Lewis has played well on the road, averaging 22.6 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in 12 games. Wilcox, averaging 11.6 points per game on the year, has scored 20 or more in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He had exactly 20 in a 106-84 loss at Cleveland on Friday.
Memphis (5-19) has lost six straight games since defeating Boston on Dec. 6, and nine of its last 10.
Gasol, playing his second game Saturday after missing the Grizzlies’ first 22 due to a broken bone in his foot, scored 11 points in 17 minutes in a 98-90 loss at Miami.
Gasol averaged 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season, when Memphis went 49-33 and lost to eventual conference champion Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.
In his first game back, Gasol scored four points in 17 minutes during Friday night’s 97-88 loss to Atlanta.
“It was better, definitely better than (Friday) night,” Gasol said. “My legs were dealing with the back-to-back game, and I was a little sore. I felt much better. I had better rhythm, was faster reacting.”
The Grizzlies will try to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season, set from Nov. 4-18.
“Bottom line, we want a win, and we’re having a hard time doing that right now but we’re getting better,” Memphis guard Dahntay Jones said. “If you can get better while losing, that’s what we’re doing.”
Grizzlies guard Damon Stoudamire did not dress against the Heat due to a sore right knee. He’s listed as day-to-day.
Memphis won three of its four games against Seattle last season, holding the Sonics to 84.3 points per game in those contests.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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