NBA Playoffs Betting: Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Pick, Odds, Prediction & Lines
The Jazz host the Grizzlies on Sunday night for Game 1 of the First Round of the West Conference NBA betting Playoffs. Memphis got here by taking a long way. They finished the regular season 9th in the West and were forced to go through two rounds of the play-in tournament. The Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the first game before pulling an upset against the Warriors on Friday. They have now lost only twice in the last 10 games. Their overall record this season is 40-34 SU and 42-31-1 ATS. Utah is coming off a fantastic regular season which they finished as a top seed in the West. They also own the best record in the league with 52-20. Against the spread, the Jazz is 41-30-1. Just like the Grizzlies, they had a strong finish to the season, going 10-5 in the last 15 games. This will be the third time these teams play each other this year. The Jazz won all three previous matchups.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Betting Odds & Line Movement
The Jazz are favored by -8.5 in this NBA playoffs betting matchup with most bookies, although some are offering the -9 line. The total stands at 216 or 215.5 depending on where you place your bet.
Notes On The Memphis Grizzlies
This is the first taste of playoffs for the new generation of Grizzlies. The young roster is a bit different from a Grit and Grind era as they enjoy playing at a frantic pace. Memphis ranks 8th in the NBA in possessions per game. A lot of credit for this goes to Ja Morant, who is one of the most electric players in the league in transition.
However, in two play-in games, the Grizzlies have shown that they can adapt to a slower pace and halfcourt battles. This is where their ability to grab offensive rebounds and score 2nd-chance NBA playoffs betting points comes to light. In their game vs Golden State, the Grizzlies had 16 offensive rebounds, 5 more than the Warriors. On Friday, Ja Morant had probably the most memorable performance of his career. The young point guard scored 35 points and added 6 assists and 6 rebounds.
The only player out for Memphis tonight is Sean McDermott who isn’t a meaningful part of the rotation anyway. It remains to be seen how much will coach Jenkins play Jarren Jackson Jr. The big man played only 14 minutes vs the Warriors.
Notes On The Utah Jazz
Probably the deepest team in the league, the Jazz managed to overcome all health issues this season to claim the No. 1 seed in the West. Tonight will be the first time for a while that coach Snider can count on all of his key players. Utah got where they are by playing their trademark gritty defense led by DPOY favorite Rudy Gobert and shooting the lights out from beyond the arch. They averaged 43.1 attempts from long range which is two more than the next team on the list.
The biggest news ahead of the playoff is the return of the franchise star Donovan Mitchell. Still, he hasn’t played in more than a month so there’s no telling how much will he be able to contribute. Luckily for the Jazz, they have plenty of other players that can step up. Despite finishing with the best record, the Jazz is still not considered as a top contender. The fact that they have only the 4th-best odds to win the Championship will certainly fuel and motivate coach Snider’s team.
The only injury worry for the Jazz is Ersan Ilyasova who’s listed as questionable.
Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Betting Pick & Prediction: Memphis +9
The Grizzlies showed that they are capable of performing when it matters. They did play 2 NBA playoffs betting games while the Jazz rested. However, fatigue likely won’t be an issue for the young team as they had a day off between each of the games. They are 21-10 ATS in the last 31 games playing after a day of rest. On the other hand, the Jazz is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 games on at least 3 days of rest. Utah is still the favorite, but the Grizzlies should be able to keep this one close.