The beleaguered Memphis Grizzlies play a second consecutive game against a Los Angele team when they visit the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night.
Memphis is 38-25 SU on the season and they are the 2nd seed in the Western Conference team standings. The Grizzlies are also the Southwest Division leaders who are 6 games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks in the latest division standings. The Grizzlies are coming off a loss to the LA Clippers in their last game.
Los Angeles is trying to make one final push for the postseason, or at least the play-in tournament. Injuries have struck the Lakers anew as LeBron James is out for at least three weeks. D’Angelo Russell continues to heal from an ankle injury and before D-Lo could return, it was Mo Babma who also suffered an injury in their last game. The Lakers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games played and are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played.
The Grizzlies will try to weather a storm that has beleaguered superstar Ja Morant. Morant was suspended for two games by the team and was later declared to be out indefinitely after showing off a gun during an IG Live post.
Without Morant, Memphis came up short against the L.A Clippers in their last game. The Grizzlies were led by Desmond Bane who scored 30 points and issued six assists. Tyus Jones added 25 points, 12 assists, and five steals, and Jaren Jackon Jr. had 24 points, 5 rebounds, and a couple of steals and blocked shots.
Morant leads the team in scoring at 27.8 PPG and 8.2 assists per game. Without Ja, Bane and Jones must step up once again if Memphis wants to beat L.A. on Tuesday.
After a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers bounced back with a strong win over the defending champions Golden State Warriors. L.A. has won five out of their last seven games and they have crept back in the team standings. The Lakers are now 31-13 and one of four teams tied from the 9th to 12th playoff spots.
Anthony Davis scored 39 points to lead the Lakers against the Warriors. AD shot 14-25 from the floor and 10-13 from the charity stripe. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and a pair of blocked shots. Austin Reaves also played well with 16 points and 8 assists.
LeBron James leads the Lakers in scoring at 29.5 points per game and will not suit up on Tuesday due to an injury. Mo Bamba is also not expected to play with an ankle problem
The Grizzlies are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played against the Lakers. Memphis is also 3-1 SU in their last four games played in Los Angeles.
Memphis Grizzlies SU trends:
Los Angeles Lakers SU trends:
Just when the Grizzlies looked like they were about to make a championship run, all kinds of bad luck happened. First, Ja Morant is out indefinitely after he was suspended by the team for 2 games for displaying a gun in an IG Live post after their loss to the Denver Nuggets last week.
Then the Grizzlies also lost Brandon Clarke to a season-ending Achilles injury and Steven Adams missed their last game with a knee injury as well. Adams is expected to miss this game against the Lakers.
In their first game without Morant, the Grizzles made a gallant stand before running out of gas against the L.A. Clippers on Sunday. Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 20 points while Tyus Jones scored 20 points in the third quarter alone. The two will need to step up again against the surging Lakers.
Los Angeles is 4-2 SU in their last six games played and is 5-2 SU in their last 7 overall. The Lakers are without LeBron James who is out for at least three weeks but Anthony Davis has been putting up big numbers to keep the Lakers at bay.
After Monday’s games, the Lakers have moved into the 11th spot and are one of four teams with an identical 31-34 SU record. A win over Memphis should put the Lakers in the Top 10 and boost their last-ditch effort to make the playoffs.
Aside from LeBron, the Lakers are without D’Angelo Russell who is out with an ankle injury. AD meanwhile is listed as probable with a right foot injury and his situation is worth monitoring as it changes the landscape of this matchup.
These teams played each other last February 28 with Memphis beating Los Angeles 121-109. AD scored 28 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in that game but Ja Morant recorded a triple-double at 39-10-10. Without Morant on Tuesday night, I have to go with the Lakers. Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
The Grizzlies are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. Memphis is also 2-1 ATS in their last 3 games played against the Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies ATS trends:
Los Angeles Lakers ATS trends:
While Anthony Davis is listed as probable, I think AD will be a go here especially since Mo Bamba will likely miss the game with an ankle injury of his own. However, the Lakers have upgraded D’Lo to questionable so he could appear on Tuesday.
Without Clake and Adams, Davis should have his way against the Memphis frontcourt. Given that AD is already playing very well right now, he should have a dominant game against the Grizzlies on Tuesday, with Memphis having a hard time stopping him.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
The under is 13-3-1 in the last 17 games played between these two teams. The over is 3-1 in their last four meetings in Los Angeles.
Memphis Grizzlies over/under trends:
Los Angeles Lakers over/under trends
These two teams play a very fast-paced game with the Lakers ranked second in the NBA at 101.8 possessions per 48 minutes and the Grizzlies at 101.3 possessions per 48 minutes or 3rd overall. Memphis has the second-best defensive rating in the league this season but with the Lakers being a high-octane and high-scoring team, Memphis will be
forced to play to their style, especially without big men Clarke and Adams.
Memphis has hit over 226 points thrice in their last four games played. Meanwhile, the Lakers have gone over 226 points only thrice in their last six games played. However, they should be able to score more points in this game with the Memphis define compromised due to the absence of Adans and Clarke. Give me these teams to hit the over.
Prediction: Over 226
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