NBA Betting Lines: Grizzlies vs. Mavs, Bulls vs. Warriors
Carrie Stroup here with your NBA betting lines and previews for the Grizzlies vs. Mavs and Bulls vs. Warriors. Remember, place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet FREE here.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (32-12) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (30-15)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Dallas -5.5, Total: 199.5
The Grizzlies look to win their fourth straight game on Tuesday night when they visit the Mavericks.
Memphis is coming off of a 103-94 home win over the Magic on Monday night and the team played beautifully on offense. The Grizzlies average an outstanding 22.4 APG (10th in NBA), but they were able to dish out 25 total assists on Monday. They’ve now scored more than 100 points in six of the past eight games, including their last two. The tougher task will be holding the Mavericks to under 100, as Dallas averages 107.8 PPG (2nd in NBA) and just beat the Grizzlies 103-95 in Memphis eight days ago on Jan. 19. However, the Mavericks have lost each of their past two games (both SU and ATS) and they’re allowing 105.5 PPG on 50% FG in those contests.
These teams have split wins (both SU and ATS) on the season, but both games were played in Memphis. When hosting the Grizzlies, the Mavericks have won-and-covered in two straight and 15 of the past 18 meetings (11-7 ATS). Three straight meetings played at American Airlines Center have gone Over the total.
In the past two seasons, the Grizzlies are 18-9 ATS in January games, but the Mavericks are 18-8 ATS after a road loss in the past two seasons and 43-25 ATS after failing to cover in two of their past three games over the past three seasons. SG Tony Allen (ankle) and PG Mike Conley (wrist) are questionable for Memphis, and C Tyson Chandler (knee) is probable for Dallas.
The Grizzlies have been one of the best defensive teams in basketball this season, allowing just 97.3 PPG (6th in NBA) on 44% FG and 36% threes. But against the Mavs this season, they have surrendered 104.0 PPG on 45% FG and 43% threes. Memphis will do its best to slow this game down and play at its preferred pace and doing that would mean heavily featuring C Marc Gasol (19.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.7 BPG) and PF Zach Randolph (16.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG) early in the game.
Gasol had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the victory over Orlando on Monday night and he’s been great against the Mavericks this season too with 25.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 5.0 APG in the two meetings. He should be able to replicate that success, especially if C Tyson Chandler is not 100 percent for this one.
Randolph is coming off of what might be his best game of the season. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes against the Magic to give him nine straight double-doubles (19.3 PPG, 13.4 RPG) since returning from a nine-game absence (knee injury) on Jan. 9. Randolph has double-doubles in both meetings with Dallas this season, averaging 17.5 PPG and 14.0 RPG, and the Grizzlies will certainly feed him often.
PG Mike Conley (17.4 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG) would be a huge loss for this team if he is unable to play through a sprained wrist that he suffered against the Magic. SF Jeff Green (16.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG) would be relied on to score a lot more if Memphis is playing without its second leading scorer Conley, who is shooting career highs with 46% FG and 42% threes. Green, who started the season in Boston, has faced the Mavericks three times this season, averaging 21.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG.
The Mavericks have lost two straight games and they’ll look to get back on track with a home win over a hot Grizzlies team. PF Dirk Nowitzki (18.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG) is averaging 24.0 PPG over the past two contests and has been shooting the ball extremely well recently (53% FG, 46% threes over past five games). He’ll need to be on his game against Memphis with Zach Randolph coming to town. He had 21 points and six rebounds in a win over the Grizzlies eight days ago.
The health of C Tyson Chandler (10.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG) will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game. Chandler has been defending the rim extremely well for the Mavericks with 10 blocks in his past three contests. Against a team with as strong of a frontcourt as Memphis has, he will need to be at his very best.
One guy who needs to step his game up is PG Rajon Rondo (9.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, 6.5 RPG), who has really struggled recently. Rondo had one of his better games as a member of the Mavericks in Sunday's loss to the Pelicans, finishing with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. He is, however, averaging just 8.0 PPG and 5.0 APG over the past five games, and has a mere 5.0 PPG and 2.5 APG in two meetings with Memphis this season. Rondo will need to be a lot better for this team going forward.
SF Chandler Parsons (15.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.2 APG) had 15 points when these teams met last week. He’ll need to win his matchup with Jeff Green for the Mavericks to win this one at home.
CHICAGO BULLS (29-17) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (36-6)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Golden State -10.5, Total: 211
The Warriors look to continue their amazing season with a victory over the gritty Bulls on Tuesday night.
Chicago has been struggling lately with a 4-7 record (SU and ATS) since Jan. 7. In that period of time they've scored 97.5 PPG and absorbed four defeats while being considered the favorites. The Bulls hosted the Heat on Sunday while giving 7.5 points and were unable to ever get anything going in a 96-84 loss. It was their abysmal shooting which really set them back as they made a meager 31-of-87 attempts (36% FG), including just 7-of-24 three-pointers (29%).
The Warriors just keep on winning as they are an amazing 13-1 SU (10-4 ATS) since Dec. 27 as they’ve defeated their opponents by an incredible 20.6 PPG. The offense has been unstoppable and they are netting 118.7 PPG over the 14-game stretch, as they have eclipsed 110 points in each of the past six contests. Golden State had one of its closer games on Sunday night as huge 18-point favorites against the Celtics when it won by a score of 114-111 in what was its 19th straight home victory. It was a tight game throughout, but the Warriors managed to make 47% of their shots and 88% of their free throws on their way to the win.
Chicago has actually played much better on the road this season at 16-6 SU (12-10 ATS), but will be faced with the near impossible task of taking on a Golden State club which has gone 21-1 SU (16-5-1 ATS) in front of its fans. This will be the second time that these two teams are meeting this season, and it was the Warriors who earned a solid 112-102 victory as 2-point favorites on the road in on Dec. 6. Most of the stats between the clubs were fairly even except that Golden State had half as many turnovers (11) as Chicago (22), and scored 27 points off the miscues. Prior to that win, the Bulls had gotten the better of the Warriors in the matchup, winning three of previous four meetings where they held Golden State to a mere 91.8 PPG.
Trends show that Chicago is 19-8 ATS (70%) when revenging a double-digit loss versus an opponent over the past two seasons, but the Warriors have gone 21-5 ATS (81%) after scoring 105+ points this season. As far as injuries are concerned, SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle) is listed as questionable for the traveling Bulls, and C Festus Ezeli (ankle) is questionable for the Warriors.
The Bulls certainly have improved from last season with their offense as they are putting up 101.8 PPG (11th in league) behind 44.4% FG (19th in NBA) and 36.6% threes (8th in league). Last season they averaged a NBA-worst 93.4 PPG on 43.2% FG (also last in league) and 34.7% threes (7th-worst in NBA). Unfortunately, their defense that led the NBA in scoring defense (92.0 PPG) and ranked second in shooting defense (43.1% FG) last season is now allowing 99.2 PPG (15th in league) on 44.2% shooting (8th in NBA) and 34.8% threes (10th in league).
PF Pau Gasol (18.3 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.1 BPG) continues to be an absolute beast for his new team and has recorded a double-double in each of the past six games, averaging 15.2 PPG, 14.5 RPG and 2.0 BPG during the run. He also had a phenomenal performance in the loss to the Warriors earlier this season with 22 points and 20 rebounds.
PG Derrick Rose (18.2 PPG, 5.0 APG) has been getting back to driving the ball more often and has scored 20+ points in five of his past seven contests. He wishes he could forget his last meeting against Golden State when he was just 2-for-11 from the field, including going 1-for-7 from three-point range, with nine points, six assists and four rebounds.
SG Jimmy Butler (20.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 SPG) has found an offensive game this season, which stems from him getting to the line, but he had a rough game against the Heat on Monday with only five points on 2-of-8 FG (0-for-2 threes). He’ll look to bounce back in this one after having a big game against the Warriors back in December (24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals).
Simply put, there is no offense in the NBA right now that can keep up with the Warriors as they are scoring a league-best 111.1 PPG and making 48.6% FG and 39.0% threes; both tops in the NBA. It isn’t just the offense that has impressed though, as the defense is giving up 99.3 PPG (16th in league) and holding their opposition to an NBA-best 42.2% shooting on 32.0% threes (3rd in league).
PG Stephen Curry (22.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 4.7 RPG, 2.1 SPG) has managed a double-double in each of the past three games (18.0 PPG, 10.7 APG), but has hit a cold streak with his shooting over the past two contests, making a mere 9-of-27 shots (33% FG) and 3-of-12 threes (25%). He also had a poor shooting day when he saw the Bulls earlier in the season (5-of-14 FG), but ended up having a solid all-around game of 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
SG Klay Thompson (22.8 PPG, 1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 46% threes) has been on another planet in the past five games, scoring 31.8 PPG as he has made 24-of-43 threes (56%). Look for him to continue his hot streak, as he went for 24 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks against Chicago in December.
SF Draymond Green (11.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.4 BPG) has been the glue that holds this team together and is looking forward to playing the Bulls again as he went for a career-high 31 points, hitting 11-of-20 shots (7-for-13 threes) and added seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks in the Warriors win on Dec. 6.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
