NBA Game Preview: Memphis Grizzlies at Cleveland Cavaliers

Feb 2, 2023

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Game: Memphis Grizzlies @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Odds: Grizzlies +5, Cavaliers -5

Total: 226

The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Memphis Grizzlies tonight in an effort to avenge a rare home loss. Following Tuesday’s 100-97 loss to the Miami Heat at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland’s record there dropped to 21-6. Donovan Mitchell scored 16 points, Evan Mobley scored 19, and Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers. The Cavs’ disappointing loss was a result of their continued inconsistent play.

Cleveland has an 8-8 record for the month of January and is now fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Mitchell leads the Cavaliers, who are allowing a league-low 106.8 points per game, with an average of 27.6 points and a 39.1 percent 3-point shooting percentage.

In Memphis on January 18, Cleveland lost 115-114 when Grizzlies center Steven Adams tipped in the game-winning basket with 16 seconds remaining. After falling to the Portland Trail Blazers 122-112 last night, Memphis is playing the second game of a home-road back-to-back.

Ja Morant led Memphis, which has dropped six of its last seven games, with 32 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds. Portland’s Damian Lillard (42 points) was just too much for the Grizzlies to handle. Lillard outperformed Morant, who missed a triple-double for the third day in a row by one rebound.

Danny Green, a winger for Memphis who had been out following surgery on his left knee, made his season debut in this contest. Against the Trail Blazers, the 14-year veteran scored three points in 10 minutes. Green missed the first 50 games of the season.

Desmond Bane, a guard for Memphis, scored 17 points in his first game back after missing the previous two due to right knee pain. Adams is out for three to five weeks with an injury to his right knee. As a result, Memphis is playing third-year pro Xavier Tillman more frequently. Over his last two games, Tillman has averaged 10.5 rebounds.

With Mobley and Allen leading Cleveland’s tough frontline, Memphis will need another strong performance from Tillman. In his previous eight games, Mobley has averaged 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who are 31-22 overall but haven’t won two straight since early January.

Cleveland has performed well at home where they are 15-5 SU in their last 20 games. The Cavs are 13-4 SU in their last 17 against Memphis at home. In the series, the Grizzlies have won the last four games in a row. That includes the 115-114 win on Jan. 18.

After that win, Memphis lost its next five straight games. The Grizzlies are 1-6 SU in their last seven games and 2-6 ATS in their last eight. Memphis is also 3-7 ATS in its last ten games against the Cavaliers.

The Under has hit in each of the Grizzlies’ last seven games and each of their last five games on the road. The total has gone Under in five of Cleveland’s last six games. The O/U record in the last ten games in this series is 3-6-1 and both teams trend Under for the season.

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