Clippers-Grizzlies Spread – Game 5 NBA Playoffs
Carrie Stroup here with your Clippers-Grizzlies spread for Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Qualified new customers can get up to $250 in FREE CASH at Sportsbook here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Memphis -6.5 & 182
Opening Line & Total: Grizzlies -6 & 183
The Clippers needed overtime to outlast the Grizzlies on Monday night, and now look to close out Memphis on its home floor in Wednesday’s Game 5.
The Los Angeles superstar duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin combined for 57 points in Game 4, as the Clips nearly saw their double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter disappear. L.A. is 7-2 SU in its past nine meetings with Grizzlies and leads this series 3-1. However, Memphis has more points in this series with a 7-point win and losses by 1, 1 and 4 points. The Griz are a tough team to beat at home, going 27-8 SU. They committed 13 fewer turnovers than L.A. in the first two games of the series, both at home. According to the FoxSheets: Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points -- after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 against the spread, in a game involving two good teams (60% to 75%) -- are 60-26 ATS (70%) over the last five seasons.
For the series, L.A. has outshot Memphis 50% FG to 44% FG, but has made just 64% of its free throws. Paul has been magnificent in this series with team highs in points (23.5 PPG), assists (8.8 APG) and steals (2.5 SPG). He’s made 47% from the floor, 43% from three-point range and 92% from the foul line. PF Blake Griffin is scoring 21.5 PPG on 57% FG, but has just 6.3 RPG, well below his 10.9 RPG during the regular season. PF Reggie Evans has picked up the rebounding slack with 8.3 RPG in just 21.3 MPG in the series. SG Nick Young has stepped up too, with 10.5 PPG on 56% FG in the series, including 15.0 PPG on 10-of-16 FG (6-of-7 threes) in the first two games in Memphis. Starting SF Caron Butler has 10.0 PPG, but is making just 41% FG, and SG Randy Foye has had a lackluster series as well, with 7.0 PPG on 42% FG.
Memphis is just 3-10 ATS in its past 13 games this season and 16-18-1 ATS at FedEx Forum. PG Mike Conley had a huge effort in Game 4 with 25 points (10-of-15 FG), seven rebounds and eight assists. In his two home games in the series, Conley had 18.0 PPG, 7.0 APG and just 2.0 TOPG. SF Rudy Gay leads Memphis with 21.8 PPG in the series, scoring at least 19 points in each game. He’s excited to return home, having shot much better in Memphis (52% FG) than he did in the past two games in Los Angeles (34%). The rest of the Grizzlies have not had huge series. PF Zach Randolph has just 12.5 PPG on 42% FG, SG O.J. Mayo has 12.0 PPG on a woeful 31% FG and C Marc Gasol has posted a lackluster 10.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG in the series, a far cry from his 14.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG during the regular season.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
