Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics
Sunday, 2/5/12, 12:00 PM EST, TV: NBATV
Opening Point Spread: Boston -5
Current Betting Line: Boston -4
Opening Total: 180
Current Total: 176.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Memphis will close out a three-game road trip in taking on the Boston Celtics inside the TD Garden, coming off a 101-94 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder as 8.5-point underdogs. The Grizzlies have won “under” the total in seven of their last eight games and have covered their last three contests. Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins was unhappy with this squad’s intensity in the fourth quarter last time out, getting outscored by a sizable 32-17 margin. “They were driving to the basketball well,” he commented after the game. Memphis is 6-6 ATS as an underdog this season.
The Grizzlies need to shoot the ball much better Sunday in order to stay competitive against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, hitting just 40.4 percent of their shots over the past seven games. Memphis continues to get solid production from forward Rudy Gay, who poured in 23 points versus the Thunder, while center Marc Gasol scored a team-high 24 points. The franchise will have covered 3,726 air miles in playing three games in four days during this current trip.
Boston is starting to get healthy as an entire roster for the first time during the 2011-12 campaign, winning seven of its past eight games, which includes a 91-89 win over the New York Knicks as 6.5-point home favorites. The Celtics were very happy in getting point guard Rajon Rondo back on the floor after missing eight games with a right wrist injury, scoring seven points and dishing out seven assists. He managed to register 28 assists and 17 points in two meetings with the Grizzlies last year. Boston is 0-3 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 6 points this year.
The Celtics have four players that average in double figures, with forward Paul Pierce leading the way in scoring 18.5 points per game. Boston is 8-6 at home this season, but dropped all three previous contests against Western Conference foes. These two teams split the season series in 2010-11, with Pierce leading the way in averaging 25.0 points per game, while guard Ray Allen chipped in with 14.5 points per contest.
Bettors will likely back the Grizzlies due to their 10-3 ATS mark on Sundays, while the Celtics are 2-8 ATS versus Southwest division teams.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!
