Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies Prediction
After they were beaten soundly last night in Milwaukee, will the Trail Blazers rebound with an upset win over the Grizzlies tonight in Memphis?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Grizzlies are now 1.5-point home favorites over the Blazers after opening as a 2.5-point favorite when the line was first posted. As for the total, the number opened at 205.5 but has been bet down to 204.5.
TRAIL BLAZERS KEY TRENDS: The Blazers have been a bad road bet of late, failing to cover in six of their last eight games in Portland. They’re also just 5-11 against the spread in their last 16 games overall, are 0-6 against the number in their last six games coming off no rest, and are 8-20 against the number in their last 28 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
GRIZZLIES KEY TRENDS: The Grizzlies are just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games as a home favorite but are 59-26 against the number in their last 85 games as a home favorite of between 0.5 and 4.5 points. They’re also 5-11 at the betting window in their last 16 games versus an opponent that owns a winning record, however.
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OUR PREDICTION: The trends don’t back the Blazers tonight and for good reason. They now have the worst defensive efficiency rating in the NBA at 109.9, while Memphis is tied with the Pistons for the third-best defensive efficiency rating at 100.5. Granted, the Blazers can score, as evidence of their 107.9 offensive efficiency rating (eighth in the league), but they’re playing on back-to-back nights and it’s more likely that they’ll be worn out on both sides of the court. Memphis should roll tonight.
THURDAY NBA PREDICTION: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES -1.5