Game: Atlanta Hawks @ Memphis Grizzlies
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Odds: Hawks +7, Grizzlies -7
Total: 228
Memphis goes for its sixth straight win tonight when the Grizzlies host the Atlanta Hawks. Memphis is well-rested after having the weekend off. The Grizzlies won their fifth in a row on Friday by defeating the Detroit Pistons 114-103. Atlanta will be playing on back-to-back nights after having beaten Chicago 123-122 in overtime on Sunday.
The teams will be meeting for the first time this season. The Hawks won both contests last year by an average of 23.5 points. Atlanta has won two straight in Memphis. They will have their hands full trying to slow down the Grizzlies leading scorer Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks. Brooks has scored in double figures in 16 straight games this season.
Morant recorded a double-double in the win over the Pistons scoring 15 points and dishing out 12 assists. He did that despite playing with a right thigh injury. Last Wednesday, Morant recorded his sixth triple-double of the season. That broke the franchise record previously held by Marc Gasol.
Last year, Morant sprained his left knee and had to leave the first game against Atlanta in the first quarter. He came back and scored 29 points in the rematch later in the season. Brandon Clarke came off the bench and scored 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting against Detroit. He will play a key role for the Grizzlies again tonight.
Atlanta defeated the Bulls on Sunday thanks to a miraculous finish. With 0.5 seconds left, Jalen Johnson inbounded the ball and AJ Griffin tipped in the alley-oop pass for the game-winning basket at the buzzer.
With 2.1 seconds left in overtime, Trae Young sank a step-back jumper from the top of the key to give the Hawks the advantage.
Bogdan Bogdanovic fouled DeMar DeRozan on a 3-point attempt with 0.5 seconds left after the Bulls had taken a timeout, and DeRozan made all three of his free throw attempts to give the Bulls a 122-121 lead setting up the wild finish.
Despite scoring 19 points against the Bulls, Young still struggles with his shooting. Against Chicago, he failed to make a field goal in the first half and finished the game 5-for-18 from the field and 2-for-8 from 3-point range. Young has scored fewer than 20 points in three of his last six games.
After having knee surgery in the summer, Bogdanovic had 59 points in his last two games and seems totally recovered. He continues to play only a set number of minutes each game. John Collins and Dejounte Murray, both starters for the Hawks, are out with sprained left ankles. Steven Adams, the Grizzlies’ starting center, may not be available because he left the game on Friday in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not come back.
Memphis is 5-0 SU and 4-0-1 ATS in its last five games. The Grizzlies are 7-1 SU in their last eight games at home. The Hawks are 3-6 SU in their last nine games and 4-9 ATS in their last 13. Atlanta is just 1-5 SU in its last six games on the road.
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