The Memphis Grizzlies head to Buzz City to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Memphis Grizzlies were six games over the .500 mark sometime in November. Then things suddenly turned downhill and now the Grizzlies are reeling as we near the trade deadline. Memphis has lost 16 out of their last 18 games and they are now well out of the playoff picture in the ultra-competitive Western Conference at 20-32.
Mike Conley leads Memphis with 20.2 points, 6.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Marc Gasol is underperforming with 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. is having a good maiden season with 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
The Grizzlies are the lowest scoring team in the league at only 100.5 points per game scored. However, Memphis has been standout on the other end of the court, leading the NBA in scoring defense at just 103.8 points per game allowed. The Grizzlies rank 20th in passing at 23.5 assists per game and are 29th off the glass with 40.2 rebounds per game.
The Charlotte Hornets are having another so-so season but at 24-26, they currently hold the 8th and final playoff spot in the weaker Eastern Conference despite a sub .500 mark. With an opportunity to go to the playoffs presenting itself, the Hornets are looking to make a final push that will ensure their slot in the Top 8.
Kemba Walker is averaging 24.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game to lead Charlotte. Jeremy Lamb is having a fine season with 15.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Malik Monk and Marvin Williams round up Charlotte’s double-digit scorers at 10.2 and 10.1 points per game respectively. Cody Zeller leads the Hornets with 6.2 rebounds aside from scoring 9.3 points per game.
The Hornets are 18th in scoring at 111.5 points per game. Charlotte is ranked 17th in assists with their 23.7 dimes per game average and they are also 19th in rebounding at 44.6 boards per contest. The Hornets are allowing their opponents to score 111.4 points per game, which is the 18th best scoring defense in the league.
Memphis is 1-10 SU in their last 11 games played. The Grizzlies are 0-5 SU in their last five road games. Charlotte is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played and the Hornets are 3-0 SU in their last three home games. Head to head, the Hornets are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games against the Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are coming off losing streaks of six and eight games with just one win in between both. They are losing games at a terrible pace and the way things look, they have not just given up on the season, they have given up trying to win games. Sure, they get a win here and there but they have not been able to put together a decent winning streak this season.
The Hornets meanwhile continue their push towards the postseason. Charlotte currently sits at the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference despite a losing record of 24-26. Kemba Walker is averaging a career-best 24.4 points per game this season and is putting the Hornets on his shoulders. The likes of Jeremy Lamb, Malik Monk, Nicolas Batum and veteran Tony Parker have alternately helped Walker win games.
Between the two, Charlotte is the team that still wants to win games. Memphis is out of the race this early and we don’t know what their motives are as they may be playing for lottery position only. With the trade deadline coming up, it’s interesting what the Grizzlies do. But as far as winning on the road against a Charlotte team looking to bounce back from a blowout loss to a Kyrie-less Celtics the last time out, I don’t like their chances. Memphis is 8-18 away from home while Charlotte is 17-8 SU at home. I’m picking the Charlotte Hornets to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on 2/1/19.
The Grizzlies are 6-19 ATS in their last 25 games played. Memphis is 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games. Meanwhile, the Hornets are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games played and are 2-1 ATS in three home games during that period. Head to head, Charlotte is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Memphis.
Memphis is 2-10 ATS in their last dozen games against Eastern Conference teams, 1-8 ATS in their last nine games against teams with a losing straight up record, 3-10 ATS in their last 13 road games and 7-21 ATS in their last 28 games overall. The Hornets are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 Friday games, 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against the Southwest Division, 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the West and 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. The Hornets are 14-11 SU at home and have won by an average winning margin of 5.8 points per game at their hive. Prediction: Hornets -5.5
The total has gone under in five out of the last seven games by the Grizzlies. The under is 9-3 in Memphis’ last dozen road games. The total has gone under in six out of the last nine games of Charlotte. The under is 2-1 in the Hornets’ last three home games. Head to head, the over is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the Grizzlies and Hornets.
The total has gone under in 10 out of the last 14 games played. The under is also 6-2 in the Hornets’ last eight games played. Memphis is the #1 team in scoring defense but the Grizzlies are also the worst scoring team in the league. The Hornets are averaging more than 111.5 points per game but Memphis is just averaging 95.71 points per game in their last seven games played. I don’t think Memphis is going to cooperate here. Prediction: Under 204.5
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