Grizzlies vs Thunder NBA Odds, Preview & Prediction

Grizzlies vs Thunder NBA Odds, Preview & Prediction

Written by on February 7, 2019

Paul George and the hot Oklahoma City Thunder will look to tame Mike Conley and the struggling Memphis Grizzlies when the Western Conference two rivals square off on Thursday night, live from Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.

With Oklahoma City looking to improve its play as we move further into the second half of the regular season and Memphis clearly playing out the season while now looking to move franchise cornerstones, Conley and former all-star center Marc Gasol, let’s find out if the Thunder can cover the chalk as a huge home favorite.

Grizzlies vs Thunder NBA Odds, Preview & Prediction

Why Bet On The Memphis Grizzlies?

Why should you consider betting on Memphis in this contest? The best reason to do so would be because the Grizz are getting a whopping 14.5 points in this affair. Another good reason to back Memphis is the fact that they’ve won two straight, including a hard-fought 108-106 win over Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Veteran point guard Mike Conley had a stupendous game with 25 points, nine assists and three steals in in what might have been his final home game with Memphis. He and veteran center Marc Gasol are at the center of the most of Memphis’ trade deadline talks.

“It would cross my mind almost every timeout,” Conley told reporters afterward. “Look into the crowd. Be looking back at the bench. Looking at coaches and players and seeing my wife and kids in the stands in the same spot they’ve been in for 12 seasons. It was all just trying to take it all in and enjoy it.”

“A lot of the guys that are on this team now have no idea what we went through for 12 seasons,” Conley told reporters, referencing himself and Gasol (11 seasons). “We started at the bottom and got almost all the way to the top.”

The Grizzlies average 100.4 points per game (30th) while allowing a league-leading 103.4 points per contest defensively (1st).

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 100.44
  • Field Goals: 44.90
  • Three Points: 34.04
  • Free Throws: 75.59
  • Rebounds: 40.35
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 103.38
  • Field Goals: 44.86
  • Three Points: 36.20
  • Free Throws: 78.34
  • Rebounds: 44.27

Why Bet On The Oklahoma City Thunder?

Is Oklahoma City a good bet for Thursday night vs Memphis?

Why should you consider betting on Oklahoma City on Thursday night? Well, there are a bunch of good reasons starting with the fact that the Thunder are playing at home where they’ve gone 18-7 so far this season. Then, there’s the fact that the Thunder are playing excellent basketball right now, having won eight of their last nine games including a convincing 132-122 win over Orlando on Tuesday.

“It is a long season. We are going to have ups and downs,” George told reporters. “End of the day, we are learning as we go. Taking it one game at a time. Games are going to get away from us. Majority of the time, this group knows what is working. We get to it. We figure out ways to win games regardless.”

Oklahoma City is by far, the better offensive team in this matchup and they’re the only team with two all-stars in Paul George and Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are averaging 115.2 points to rank a stellar fifth in scoring while allowing 110.0 points per game defensively (12th).

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 115.15
  • Field Goals: 46.18
  • Three Points: 35.17
  • Free Throws: 71.36
  • Rebounds: 48
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 110.02
  • Field Goals: 45.86
  • Three Points: 34.46
  • Free Throws: 75.55
  • Rebounds: 45.30

Grizzlies vs Thunder NBA Betting Trends

  • Memphis is 7-14-1 ATS in its last 22 games
  • Memphis is 4-17 SU in its last 21 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis’s last 5 games
  • Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
  • Oklahoma City is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oklahoma City’s last 8 games

Expert Analysis and Prediction for Grizzlies vs Thunder

Memphis might have won two straight, but they did so by beating the mediocre Timberwolves and lowly Knicks, so I’m not overly impressed. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is hitting its stride at just the right time and Russell Westbrook is no longer laying bricks like a house-building mason.

The Grizzlies have gone an awful 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games and equally disturbing 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games overall. On the flip side of the coin, Oklahoma City has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games, 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game and  5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win. Oklahoma City is the pick to win and cover the high spread in this one!

NBA Betting Pick: Thunder 121 Grizzlies 105