Memphis at L.A. Clippers
Time: 9:30 PM CST (NBA TV)
Spread: LAC -11
Total: 234
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Memphis Grizzlies have lost two straight to fall to .500 on the season. Memphis will try to get back on the track against the No. 3 seeded Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are 22-6 at home where it is 11-point favorites, in a game that will air at 9:30 PM (CST) on NBA TV. The betting total is set at 234 total points according to NBA oddsmakers at 5dimes.
LAC NEWS & NOTES:
The Los Angeles Clippers are 37-19 and trail the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference as the West’s No. 3 team. The Clippers won five of its last 10 SU. L.A. ranks No. 4 in scoring at 115.7 per game while limiting teams to 110.3, a point differential of +5.4 points.
Considering its No. 3 and No. 4 scorers both come off the bench, this is done in a different fashion. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell each average 20 and 19 points per game, respectively and do it in 30 minutes a night or less. That enables Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to keep their minutes around the 30-32 range, as well.
Leonard leads the team in minutes at just 32.1 per game. The Clippers utilize a 10-11 man rotation, with several key role players like Patrick Beverley and Ivica Zubac serving their purposes as defenders and sparks. George is averaging 23.5 points, six rebounds, and 3.7 assists as one of three Clippers with a PER over 20. Leonard is super-efficient and the top-three Clippers all shoot 36 percent or better from three.
Leonard averages 26.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and has appeared in just 33 games due to load management. With the Clippers resplendent depth, it can afford to rest its superstars and cruise to an easy homeport advantage in the first round.
MEMPHIS news & notes:
The Memphis Grizzlies have snuck into the playoff picture after not being expected to do much more than rebuild. At 28-28, it needs to gain some momentum to seal off the teams fighting beneath it in the standings.
In a year that was considered a rebuilding or tanking effort, Memphis has done anything but. The young Grizz are competing and winning games.
Memphis is led by a first-year point guard in Ja Morant and second-year forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson leads the team in scoring at 18.1 points per game while coming up with 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 steals/blocks in just 28 minutes a game. Ja Morant is seeing 29.5 minutes per game and averaging 17.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. Morant is shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 39 percent from three on 2.3 attempts per game. Jackson is shooting nearly 42 percent from three on 6.4 attempts per game. Memphis attempts 32.8 threes per game and connects on 36 percent as a team.
The Grizzlies average the 8th-most points in the league at 113.4 per game. However, Memphis also has a bottom-five defense that allows 116.1 per game. Interestingly, the Grizzlies lead the league in assists per game with 27.9 per contest as a team. Between that chemistry and an improving defense, the Grizzlies may have a chance to stay in the top-8 and make the postseason in a year few considered it possible.
