Tip off: 9:05 PM EST
Spread: UTA -1.5
Total: 186
M/L: UTA -125, MEM +105
The Grizzlies received some absolutely horrible news when they found out they would be losing Zach Randolph for most of the remainder of the season. They immediately traded Xavier Henry for Marreese Speights, who should start in due time. The M.O. for the Grizzlies now becomes just fighting to be a playoff team so that when Z-Bo does return from the knee injury they are still able to make waves in what promises to be an interesting playoff season. They won by 4 over the Wolves Wednesday night, as an unlikely assassin emerged in Tony Allen, who went 8 of 8 from the floor en route to a team high 20 points. Look for Allen and Rudy Gay to both pick up their offensive production in the absense of Zach Randolph.
The Jazz are probably happy to be 3-3. No one really expects much of them this season and they defeated the Bucks in handy fashion on Tuesday night, holding the Milwaukee team to just 73 points on a wickedly disgusting 30% shooting. Al Jefferson went absolutely nuts, hitting 10 of 17 from the floor and finishing with a game high 24 points. Jefferson has been having a pretty decent year by his standards, putting up 18.4 points per game and 8.4 boards. The boards are a slight regression from his 9.7 last season, but it is also too early to jump to any conclusions.
Memphis Betting Trends:
Memphis is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 on the road. The Grizz are 1-5 SU in their last 6 road games and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 against Utah. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Grizziles’ last 5 games against the Jazz and the Grizz are 3-13 SU in their last 16 against Utah. The Grizz are 0-5 SU in their last 5 road games against the Jazz and they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 on the road against Utah. The total has gone OVER In 7 of the Grizziles’ last 10 games on the road against the Jazz.
Utah Betting Trends:
Utah is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 gams and the total has gone UNDER in 10 of the last 15 games. The Jazz are 6-13 SU in their last 19 games and they are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 at home. The Jazz are 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of the last 5 games against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Jazz are 13-3 SU in their last 16 against Memphis and they are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 against the Grizz. The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Jazz’ last 10 games against Memphis and Utah is 5-0 SU in their last 5 at home against the Grizz.
Key Matchup:
Rudy Gay vs. Gordon Hayward
Hayward has been much improved this year, in all facets, but is going to have one hell of a time trying to guard Rudy Gay. Gay’s athleticism should make it nearly impossible for the speed challenged Hayward to keep two feet in front of him, while Gay’s jumper will also make it impossible for the 6’9″ Hayward to lay too far off of him. Coming out of Butler, Hayward was picked 9th in the 2010 draft and is expected to grow into his role as a starter, but he’s not ready to handle Rudy Gay yet, and if the Grizzlies win the game, this matchup will likely be why.
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