Memphis at New Orleans
Time: Saturday, 7 PM ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Line: NOP -1
Total: 187
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Memphis has the most stingy defense in the NBA, allowing just 95.7 points per game, while scoring 100.5 itself (+5.2 differential). The Grizzlies will travel to New Orleans in a game NBA live lines are showing the Pelicans as 1-point favorites at oddsmaker Bovada.
The total is set at 187, and for an explanation of how to bet an over/under, please see our NBA odds explained.
Grizzlies All-Star center Marc Gasol is a free agent at season’s end, and he’s going to get a max contract. The one-time Defensive Player of the Year leads the team in PER (22.4) while averaging 18.3 points, eight rebounds and 2.55 blocks/steals per game.
He’s augmented on the frontline by a declining Zach Randolph, who continues to produce despite now being 33 years of age.
The lefty power forward is averaging 16.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while posting a PER of 21.0. Last matchup against the Clippers he had just 10 points and eight boards, however. Tonight he’ll find his workload much easier without having to contend with Griffin on the defensive end.
The Grizzlies have as tough a three-guard defensive rotation as any in the league. Mike Conley, Courtney Lee and Tony Allen are all superb on ball defenders and the Grizzlies’ tough D begins in the backcourt. Between the trio, the Grizzlies get 4.19 steals per game, while the team averages 8.52 per game. The Grizzlies also take good care of the ball itself, averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game and posting a team assist: turnover ratio of 1.7.
The Grizzlies have received a nice boost from Jeff Green, who was acquired from the Boston Celtics. Green is averaging just under 30 minutes per game and posting 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He’s filling a role much more like what he did early in his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Green is best when he is able to let the game come to him.
That wasn’t the case as the No. 1 option in Boston for most of this season, but in Memphis his role has changed for the better. Moreover, if the Grizzlies do lose Gasol this summer in free agency, Green will be able to absorb much of that scoring role with an increased portion of the offensive load.
New Orleans is still five games above .500 and is just 1/2 game behind Oklahoma City for the 8th spot in the West. The Pelicans have won six of its past 10 games and just welcomed a healthy Anthony Davis back into the lineup. Davis had 39 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks in the Pelicans 88-85 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wed (Mar 4) night. He battled hard with Andre Drummond of Detroit, who countered Davis with 18 boards and six blocks of his own.
Tyreke Evans has been playing very good basketball for the Pelicans as the point guard replacement for the injured Jrue Holiday. The one-time Sacramento King has averaged 16 points, 8.9 assists and 4.4 boards over his past 10 games, though shooting just 40.6 percent from the field. The Pelicans are due to get Holiday back in a few weeks, and power forward Ryan Anderson could return around that time too. If New Orleans is in the postseason, the boost could be a surprise threat to a potential matchup with the Warriors.
