Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, 12/18/10, 8:30 PM EDT
Opening Point Spread: San Antonio -10
Current Betting Line: San Antonio -11
Opening Total: 199.5
Current Total: 197.5
Memphis is coming off one of its worst performances of the year in a 103-87 road loss to the Houston Rockets in the first of a two-game road trip through Texas. “We came in here to try to make a statement that we could play with them, but they showed us that we haven’t matured enough and gotten on the level that they’re on with their group.” The Grizzlies have a 12-15 overall record and have posted a 4-6 mark against Western Conference opponents on the road. The franchise is 14-45 all-time against San Antonio, dropping 15 of the last 19 meetings and recording a 6-23 series record on the road. Memphis did snap a 10-game road losing streak against the Spurs in the last meeting on April 9, 2010, a 107-99 win. The club is 15-11 ATS on the season and 1-0 ATS as a road underdog of 9.5 to 12 points.
The Grizzlies have enjoyed some success this month in winning four of their last five games after dropping the first four. Memphis posted a 9-4 record and Hollins was named the NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month last December. Defensively, the team has really turned it around by allowing opponents just 87.4 points on 42.8 percent shooting over the last five games, which is far different than the 103.1 points it surrendered in the first 22 contests to start the year. Memphis has also faced a very difficult schedule in facing off against 18 playoff teams in the first 27 games of the season.
San Antonio aims for an eighth-straight win and seventh in a row at the AT&T Center after picking up a 113-112 win in Denver on Thursday night. The Spurs went ahead in that contest with Manu Ginobili’s game winner with 4.2 seconds remaining on the clock. “He’s a stud,” said coach Gregg Popovich. “He’s been a competitor, he’s won championships here and overseas.” Ginobili is averaging 20.0 points per game and shooting 46.2 percent from the field while playing 31.8 minutes this season. The club is 13-2 at home this season and comes in with the league’s best overall record at 22-3. San Antonio is 16-8 ATS on the season.
The Spurs are enjoying their best start in franchise history through 25 games and much of the success is attributed to a high-powered offense. San Antonio is averaging 106.1 points per game, which is its highest in two decades since scoring 107.1 points during the 1990-91 campaign. In addition, the unit’s three-point field goal percentage of 41.1 percent is on pace to break the franchise record of 40.7, which was set in the 2000-01 season. The squad has gotten back to its defensive ways over its current win streak, holding opponents to 93.0 points.
Bettors will be interested in playing the Grizzlies due to their 7-1-1 ATS mark as an underdog, while the Spurs are 4-0 ATS versus the Western Conference.
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