Game: Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Odds: Grizzlies -3, Timberwolves +3
Total: 237.5
The Memphis Grizzlies would love nothing more than a win tonight. The Grizzlies were flying high as they won 11 straight to tie a franchise record. Then came their current five-game road trip. The Grizzlies have lost four straight and can salvage a disastrous road swing with a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis tonight.
Memphis lost two close games to start the trip before suffering a crushing defeat in Sacramento. On Wednesday night, the Grizzlies held a 10-point lead over the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter but watched that fade away and eventually lost 122-120. It’s the first four-game losing skid for Memphis since February of last season.
Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant scored 29 points and dished out 12 assists on Wednesday in his first game back after missing one due to a painful left ankle. In the Grizzlies’ 114-103 victory over the Timberwolves on November 11, Morant scored 28 points. In the Grizzlies’ 109-101 loss in Minneapolis on November 30, he scored just eight points.
One of the issues for Memphis tonight and for the next few weeks will be the services of Steven Adams. The big man will be out for three to five weeks after suffering an injury to his right knee. He was replaced in the starting lineup on Wednesday by Brandon Clarke, who scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Danny Green is out and Desmond Bane is listed as questionable for tonight.
The Timberwolves have won nine of their last 13 games, bringing their season record to.500. In Wednesday night’s 111-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 37 points. The former first-round draft pick has taken his game to another level over the past week or so. Edwards has been almost unstoppable in transition.
Over his last three games, Edwards has averaged 37.3 points per game. In the two games he played against Memphis this season, Edwards scored 28 and 29 points, respectively. He isn’t the only Twolves’ player playing well. On Wednesday, Rudy Gobert scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Minnesota opened a six-game home stand.
Minnesota has improved to 16-10 at the Target Center this season after winning seven of its previous eight home games. Memphis, which is 20-3 at home this season, is only 11-14 away from home. What’s interesting is that the total has gone Under in nine of the Grizzlies’ last 12 games. Memphis is No. 5 in scoring in the NBA averaging 117.1 points per game.
Memphis is 1-4 SU and ATS in its last five games. In their last 18 games against the Timberwolves, the Grizzlies are 13-5 SU and 12-6 ATS. Minnesota is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games and is 7-1 SU at home in its last eight. The Grizzlies have covered in four of their last five games.
In the series between these two teams, the Under has cashed in six of the last seven games and eight of the last ten. The Under is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings played in Minnesota.
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