Memphis Grizzlies at Toronto Raptors
Monday, 1/24/10, 7:00 PM EDT
Opening Point Spread: Memphis -4
Current Betting Line: Memphis -4.5
Opening Total: 202.5
Current Total: 203
Memphis has been incredibly inconsistent during the 2010-11 campaign and has eight win streaks of at least two games this season, but also has seven losing streaks of that same length. “We’re trying to make the next step,” said center Marc Gasol. “We’ve been really up and down.” The Grizzlies are 21-23 overall on the season and have posted a 3-5 mark against Eastern Conference opponents on the road. The team leads the overall series 17-13 and has won the last four games in the series heading into tonight’s contest. Memphis is 15-9 ATS on the road this season and 0-3 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points. Don’t even think about betting this game until you check out the NBA lines page for the latest movement.
The Grizzlies are 1-0 on their current four-game road trip with a 94-81 victory at Milwaukee on Saturday night. This current road swing is the longest remaining trip for Memphis for the remainder of the season. With a win over Toronto, the team would improve to one game below .500 for the first time since they were 4-5 following a loss to Dallas on November 10. The team’s success starts in the paint, as it is currently pouring in a league-high 49.1 points inside. Forward Zach Randolph is a huge part of putting up those numbers and will be looking to extend his franchise-best streak of double-doubles to 11 tonight.
Toronto begins a three-game homestand with a rare Monday night matchup against Memphis at Air Canada Centre. The game will be the second of just two Monday home dates for the Raptors this season. It’s hard to imagine that the team will pull off a home underdog victory tonight due to its current season-high seven game losing streak and coming off a 120-103 loss in Miami with only nine players available on Saturday. “Guys fought back, but we got in a big hole just because of our roster,” said coach Jay Triano. “I give our guys credit because there’s a lot of guys that are banged up and hurting.” Toronto is 9-14 ATS after allowing 105 points or more this season.
The Raptors may be struggling as a whole, but guard DeMar DeRozan continues to experience the best scoring month of his career. He currently ranks first among all sophomore players in the league by averaging 19.5 points this month, including his second 30-point game of his career last time out against the Heat. Toronto has last four in a row in this particular series and had a three-game home winning streak snapped last season with a 109-102 overtime defeat. In order to gain revenge, the Raptors must improve upon an interior defense that is allowing a league-worst 48.1 points per game.
Bettors will likely back the Grizzlies due to their 15-5-1 ATS mark in the last 21 meetings, while the Raptors are 1-5 ATS at home.
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