Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics, TD Garden, Boston, MA
Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:30 pm Eastern, TV: CSNE
Opening Line: Celtics -7
Current Line: Celtics -6.5
Opening Total: 189
Current Total: 188
Money Line: Celtics -265 / Grizzlies +235
The pressure is on for both the Boston Celtics (50-19) and Memphis Grizzlies (39-32) down the stretch of the regular season, but with different goals in mind as they each continue to jockey for playoff positioning in their respective conferences. They meet on Wednesday, as the Celtics (-6.5) are trying to keep pace for Chicago for the top spot in the East while the Grizzlies are hoping to hold onto the eighth and final spot in the West despite losing one of their top scorers to a shoulder injury in Rudy Gay.
Gay was averaging 19.8 points per game before Memphis decided he would require surgery on his shoulder and miss the rest of the season. Without him, the Grizzlies have gone 8-6 straight-up and 9-5 against the spread. They own a two-game lead over Houston for the last playoff berth and visit the Bulls on Friday before returning home.
Boston has won three of four SU and ATS after dropping three of four and needs to finish the season strong in order to overtake Chicago for the #1 seed. The Celtics have returned to emphasizing defense lately in an effort to get back on track since losing at home to the Los Angeles Clippers 108-103 on March 9 as 9-point favorites. They have held six of their last seven opponents under 90 points with the UNDER cashing in each of those games.
The team just completed a successful three-game road trip with two straight wins, including a 96-86 come-from-behind victory at New York on Monday. Boston trailed the Knicks 51-37 at halftime before head coach Doc Rivers told his players they were soft during the intermission. The Celtics obviously responded well in the second half, holding the home team to just 35 points.
Kevin Garnett led Boston with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds while Paul Pierce scored 21 and Ray Allen added 15. Point guard Rajon Rondo also busted out of his slump with 13 points and 12 assists in over 42 minutes of action, his highest total since the loss to the Clippers. Rondo had gone five games without scoring in double figures, averaging 3.4 points and 6.2 assists during that stretch.
The Celtics have not lost at home to an Eastern Conference opponent this season, but they are just 8-6 against Western Conference foes there. They also lost the last home meeting to Memphis 111-91 last March 10 and are 4-6 ATS in the past 10 games between the teams with the OVER cashing in nine straight. The Grizzlies have covered the last 10 games in Boston.
Now that you have read this NBA pro basketball betting preview featuring the Celtics & Grizzlies, check out the NBA odds on this and all the games to compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
