Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs continues on Thursday night and we will see Oklahoma City Thunder travel to the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in game 6 of their best-of-seven series. The game has a start time of 8:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on TNT. Vegas odds have the Thunder listed as 2.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 184.
Stat Packs: The Oklahoma City Thunder were looking for revenge for last year playoff loss to these same Grizzlies, but they are now in a fight for their playoff lives as they find themselves down 3 games to 2 as the series heads back to Memphis. The Thunder have gone 26-17 SU on the road this year, but have gone just 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 trips to Memphis. The Thunder averaged 104.6 ppg during the regular season, but so far vs Memphis they have been able to put up just 98.2 ppg, while shooting under 40%. In the playoffs, Kevin Durant leads the team in scoring, averaging 28.0 ppg, while Russell Westbrook is second, at 25.4 ppg. Serge Ibaka (14.2 ppg) and Reggie Jackson (12.6 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. Serge Ibaka leads the team in rebounding at 10.2 rpg and also has blocked 2.8 spg. Defensively the Thunder have held the Grizzlies to 96.8 ppg on 41.9% shooting so far.
Last year the Grizzlies shocked the Thunder by taking them out of the playoffs and they have a shot at doing so again as they head back to Memphis with a 3-2 series lead. The Grizzlies are a solid 28-15 SU at home this year and they are 15-5-4 ATS in their last 24 games during the Conference Quarterfinals. During the regular season the Grizzlies ranked 27th in the league in scoring, averaging just 96.1 ppg and through 4 games thus far they have averaged just 96.8. Zach Randolph (18.6 ppg) leads the team in scoring in the playoffs, while Mike Conely (17.2 ppg) and Marc Gasol (16.0 ppg) are close behind. Tony Allen is 4th in scoring (11.6 ppg) and is second on the team rebounding at 9.0 rpg, right behind Marc Gasol, who averages 9.4 rpg. Defensively this was a very solid team in the regular season, ranking 3rd in the league in points allowed (94.6 ppg) and 9th in defensive FG% (45.0%) and they have done a very good job vs the high scoring Thunder, allowing them just 98.2 ppg on 39.7% shooting.
Pick: I will look at the Over in this one. The Thunder have their back's to the wall and I would expect them to throw all they have at the Grizzlies to avoid an early exit from the playoffs. Memphis home games have averaged 194.3 ppg this year, while Oklahoma City road games have put up 204.9 ppg. This should also be another close game, which could lead to OT once again or at the very least we should get one team playing the foul game down the stretch and if OKC is behind they will have to do it often as there is no tomorrow should they lose. I look for this game to be played in the 190s.
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