Spurs vs. Cavs Betting Line – Grizzlies vs. Wizards Betting Line
The Spurs vs. Cavs betting line and Grizzlies vs. Wizards betting line could be found at Sportsbook.ag.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (41-25) at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (40-23)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Cleveland -1.5, Total: 207.5
The Cleveland Cavaliers look to continue playing at a torrid pace when they travel to Texas and take on the San Antonio Spurs, winners of their past six games, on Thursday night.
The Cavs have put a poor start to the season behind them as they come into this contest with a SU win in eight of their past 11 contests since the All-Star break. In that time they are a solid 7-4 ATS and won by double digits in six of the games; including taking three of them by at least 30 points. The latest Cleveland victory came on Tuesday night when they traveled to Dallas as 4-point favorites and took a landslide win by a score of 127-94. The Cavs offense hit 44-of-87 field-goal attempts (51% FG), including 15-of-32 from long range (47% 3PM), and grabbed 50 rebounds in the winning effort.
The Spurs are in the midst of one of their best stretches on the year and have won in each of the past six games SU (5-1 ATS), as they defeat their opponents by an average of 15.8 PPG. The offense hit triple-digits in each of the contests as they averaged 112.2 PPG and held opponents under 100 points three times. The Raptors were the most recent victims of San Antonio’s strong play when they fell 117-107 as the Spurs were giving seven points at home this past Tuesday night. Both SF Kawhi Leonard and PF Tim Duncan had double-doubles in the victory as the team hit an incredible 11-of-18 three-pointers (61% 3PM) in the process.
Cleveland has not fared well when away from home, playing to a 17-16 SU record (14-19 ATS) in road games as they face a San Antonio cew which is 24-7 SU (13-16-2 ATS) in front of its hometown faithful. The Spurs were able to grab the win in the first game between these clubs on the season as they traveled to Cleveland while getting 1.5 points and left with a 92-90 victory. It was a very evenly matched contest, but San Antonio’s shooting (47% FG) is what got them the win. It was amazingly the Spurs’ 10th SU win in a row against the Cavs as they are 7-2-1 ATS in that time.
Trends show that Cleveland is 86-59 ATS (59%) after a game where it made 12 or more three-pointers since 1996 as San Antonio is 16-4 ATS in March games over the past two seasons. The injury report continues to have SF Shawn Marion (Hip) listed as questionable and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) out for the season on the Cavaliers side of the ball as the Spurs have PF Tim Duncan (Elbow) as probable and SG Manu Ginobili (Illness) listed as questionable.
The Cavs offense continues to improve as the season progresses and they are currently putting up 102.9 PPG (7th in league) on 45.6% shooting (10th in league). The defense has also done their part, giving up 98.4 PPG on the year (11th in league) with opponents making 45.1% of their shots.
SF LeBron James (26.0 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is coming off one of his most efficient efforts of the year in the win over Dallas on Tuesday night, going for 27 point on 10-of-14 shooting as he added eight assists, seven rebounds, a block and a steal. He did struggle in the one game against the Spurs, though; making just 6-of-17 shots (35% FG) for 15 points with nine assists and six rebounds.
PG Kyrie Irving (21.4 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.5 SPG) has hit 28-of-30 free throws (93% FT) over the past five games but is scoring an underwhelming 18.8 PPG behind a poor effort in Phoenix where he scored a mere eight points with three assists. In his last game against San Antonio he was able to score 20 points to go along with four rebounds and three steals.
PF Kevin Love (17.0 PPG, 10.2 RPG) has three double-doubles in the past four games and is coming off a tremendous performance (21 points, 14 rebounds) in the manhandling of the Mavericks. He also recorded a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) when last matched up with the Spurs but struggled with his shot (4-for-12).
The Spurs have managed to have another successful season on the offensive end and are netting 101.6 PPG (11th in league) as they make 45.7% of their shots (9th in league). The defense has also really impressed, allowing opponents to score just 97.4 PPG (8th in league) behind 44.4% shooting (12th in league).
SF Kawhi Leonard (15.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.2 SPG) has rattled off five straight 20+ point games in which he has averaged 22.4 PPG (55% FG), 8.4 RPG, 3.0 APG and 1.4 BPG. His 4-of-14 shooting wasn’t too impressive in the first win over Cleveland, but he did get a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) and added four steals.
PG Tony Parker (14.7 PPG, 4.9 APG) has been phenomenal with his scoring recently and has netted 24.5 PPG with 1.8 SPG over the last four contests. He was barely a factor against the Cavs earlier in the year with eight points and three assists.
PF Tim Duncan (14.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.8 BPG) is coming off a nice double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) but has really seen his production dip of late with 8.2 PPG and 8.0 RPG over the past five games. His showing (19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals) in Cleveland at the start of the year was the main factor in his club earning a win.
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (45-19) at WASHINGTON WIZARDS (36-28)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington -2.5, Total: 182.5
The Wizards will be looking to make a statement with a home victory over the Grizzlies on Thursday.
The Grizzlies went into Boston last game and lost 95-92 as 6.5-point road favorites. Memphis has now lost two of its past three games and the team has failed to cover the spread in seven of its past 10 contests. The Grizzlies turned the ball over 21 times in their loss to the Celtics and they will need to take much better care of the ball moving forward.
The Wizards, meanwhile, went into Charlotte Monday and beat the Hornets 95-69 as 2-point road underdogs. Washington has won three of its past five games SU, but the team’s cover against Charlotte was its first in its past 10 games.
These teams last met on Mar. 3, 2014, when the Grizzlies won 110-104 as 2-point favorites in Washington. Over the past three seasons, Memphis is 3-1 SU but just 2-2 ATS when facing Washington. The Wizards had won-and-covered in two straight home games against the Grizzlies before losing both SU and ATS versus Memphis at the Verizon Center last season.
Washington is 0-8 ATS after three straight games outrebounding an opponent by five or more over the past two seasons. The team is, however, 75-51 ATS as an underdog over the past three seasons. PG Mike Conley (Leg) is questionable for the Grizzlies in this game and PF Kris Humphries (Groin) is questionable for the Wizards.
The Grizzlies are coming off of a rough loss in Boston and will need to turn things around against the Wizards Thursday. PG Mike Conley (16.3 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG) would be a big loss if he were to sit this game out. Conley had 20 points (9-for-12 FG, 2-for-5 3PT) against the Celtics on Wednesday and his speed will really be needed against a Wizards team that is extremely talented at the guard position. PG John Wall would be too much to handle if Conley needs to sit this one out.
PF Zach Randolph (16.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG) has to get himself going for Memphis soon. Over the past three games, Randolph is averaging just 12.3 PPG over the past three games and he is way too good to be playing that ineffectively on offense.
C Marc Gasol (18.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.7 BPG) will also have to get himself back on track. He’s had two games with less than double-digits scoring in the past five and he has to be better against a big Wizards frontcourt on Thursday.
SF Jeff Green (15.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG) is a guy that can really help the Grizzlies in this game. Green is averaging 15.6 PPG over the past five games and has been more aggressive in this offense lately. While he hasn’t faced the Wizards as a member of the Grizzlies, he did average 25.3 PPG against Washington with the Celtics this season. If he is able to be effective as a scorer in this game then it will really take pressure off of the Grizzlies’ big men.
The Wizards are coming off of an impressive road victory over the Hornets and C Marcin Gortat (11.9 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG) was huge in that game. Gortat played just 28 minutes and finished with 20 points (9-for-11 FG) and seven rebounds. He’ll need to be ready to play in this one, as he’ll be going up against the very skilled Marc Gasol.
PG John Wall (16.9 PPG, 10.0 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG) had 15 points, nine assists, five boards and three steals against the Hornets. Wall has the size and speed to give Mike Conley a lot of problems on Thursday. He’ll also be able to completely dominate this game if Conley ends up sitting out.
One guy who will need to get himself going is SG Bradley Beal (14.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG). Beal is an outstanding outside shooter (42% 3PT), but he is shooting just 20% from behind the arc over the past five games. He has really struggled to find his outside shot since returning from a leg injury and the team is counting on him to turn it around.
SF Paul Pierce (12.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.0 APG) is another excellent shooter for this Wizards team (39% 3PT). Pierce has been on fire as of late, shooting 44% from the outside over the past five games. He’ll need to come ready to defend Jeff Green in this one as he had trouble with him when Green was in a Celtics uniform.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
