Monday night NBA and we will see the Memphis Grizzlies travel to the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Clippers. The game has a start time of 10:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on NBA TV. Current Vegas betting odds have the Clippers listed as 3.5 point favorites, while the total is set at 202.
Analysis: The Memphis Grizzlies continue to play good ball as they are now 15-3 in their last 18 games after last night's 98-92 road win over Portland. For the year Memphis is now 40-14 overall and 17-9 on the road, while holding a 3.5 game lead over Houston in the race for the top spot in the Southwest Division. Memphis has gone 8-1 ATS the last 9 in the series, but the Grizzlies are also just 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Memphis has been a rather average offensive team this year, ranking 14th in scoring (100.6 ppg), 8th in shooting, 21st in 3 point shooting and 5th in FT shooting. The defense for this team has been very good as they come in ranked 1st in points allowed (95.7 ppg), 8th in defensive FG% and 17th in 3 point defense.
The Los Angeles Clippers come in having won their last 4 games, which include their first 2 after the break. The Clipps are now 37-19 on the year overall, including a solid 23-7 at home. The Clippers are in 2nd place in the Pacific Division and if the playoffs started today they would be a 5th seed in the West. LA has gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, but just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600. The Clippers has been a very good offensive team this year, ranking 2nd in scoring (107.3 ppg), 2nd in shooting, 4th in 3 point shooting and 27th in FT shooting. Defensively the Clippers have been less than average, ranking 22nd in points allowed (100.9 ppg), 16th in defensive FG% and 12th in 3 point defense.
Pick: Going with the Under here. When playing a lesser team the Clippers will get teams to play at their pace, but this Memphis team will not play that way. They slow the game down and also play the best defense in the league. Memphis has allowed just 91.8 ppg in their last 6 games and just 96.8 ppg on the road, while their offense has put up just 93 ppg in their last 5 games and just 98.1 ppg on the road. The Clipps offense is 2nd best in the league, but I feel they will have limited offensive possessions in this one, which will keep their scoring down, especially vs a defense that doesn't yield a whole lot. The Clipps are not a good defensive team, but they have allowed 99 or less in 3 of their last 4 games and have allowed 98.8 ppg at home for the year. The Under is 12-3-1 in the Grizzlies' last 16 overall, while the Under is 5-1 when the Clipps are off a game in which they scored 125+ points. I don't see either team hitting the 100 point mark in this one.
-$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
Stay on top of the latest odds and line moves for CBB Season with our real-time odds from Las Vegas and offshore!
Handicapping Tips: NBA Betting
Bryan Leonard and Steve Fezzik, from Pregame.com discuss some handicapping tips for betting the NBA.