Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 1 Pick
Will the San Antonio Spurs roll right through the Memphis Grizzlies when the two meet tonight at 8PM ET in Game 1 of their series?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Spurs are the clear favorite in tonight’s game, as they are getting odds of -9.5 points against the Grizzlies. The over/under total for the game is listed at 190.5 points. The home team won all four meetings this season, but the Grizzlies were 4-0 against the spread against the Spurs this season.
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San Antonio ended the regular season on a lull, losing their last three and four of their last five games. The Spurs are 61-21 on the season and in the No. 2 seed in the West while going 41-39-2 against the spread. San Antonio averaged 105.3 points per game on offense while allowing 98.1 on defense. Over their last five games, the Spurs are putting up just 95.8 points per game while giving up 97.8 on defense. Kawhi Leonard is leading the team with 25.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while LaMarcus Aldridge is adding 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
Memphis also comes into the postseason struggling, losing five of their last six games to fall to 43-39 overall and 41-41 against the spread. The Grizzlies averaged 100.5 points per game on offense this season while giving up 100.0 on defense. Over their last five games, Memphis averaged 94.6 points per game on offense while giving up 97.8 on defense. Mike Conley is leading the team with 20.5 points and 6.3 assists per game while Marc Gasol adds 19.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.
Neither team is playing well, but we typically expect the Spurs to be at their best at playoff time. However, San Antonio didn’t light the world on fire last postseason and seems to be in a real slump right now. Memphis also has played the Spurs very tough all season, so I don’t like the idea of the Spurs giving up nearly 10 points to them. Memphis has a defense that should be able to keep this game interesting.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES +9.5