Grizzlies vs. Celtics Odds
| Grizzlies Odds | +4 |
| Celtics Odds | -4 |
| Over/Under | 227 |
| Time | 2 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here. | |
The Memphis Grizzlies will hit the road Sunday to take on the Boston Celtics.
Memphis recently hit a bump in the road as it lost eight of nine games from January 20th to February 5th. However, the Grizzlies have since turned things around and have won two straight and now own the second best record in the Western Conference.
Boston is the No. 1 seed in the East and enters matchup with a 40-16 record and having won three straight games.
Both Memphis and Boston are NBA Finals hopefuls with plenty of momentum. Here are the odds and a betting prediction for the matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Boston Celtics.
Memphis Grizzlies
The largest reason for Memphis tallying eight losses in that recent nine-game stretch was a lack of offense. According to NBA.com, the Grizzlies posted a 114.6 Offensive Rating in the 44 games played prior to January 20th. However, that rating plummeted to 108.2 in the next nine games — the third-lowest rating in the NBA during that span.
The biggest issue facing Memphis on the offensive end was a lack of reliable perimeter shooting. The Grizzlies shot just 30.9% from behind the arc during that stretch. Memphis isn't a great 3-point shooting team to begin with (34.4% on the season) and losing more production from deep proved to be detrimental.
However, after winning the past two games against Chicago and Minnesota, it appears Memphis may finally be over the hump. The Grizzlies have improved their 3-point percentage to 36.2% and their overall shooting percentage to 53.3% in the past two games, resulting in a 114.3 Offensive Rating and a +36 point differential.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have proven they are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
Boston ranks fourth in the NBA in Offensive Rating at 116.7, sitting behind only Denver, Sacramento and Utah. That rating has risen to 117.8 in Boston's past three games, a sign this team is trending upward despite already being arguably the best offense in the NBA.
The Celtics also consistently get the job done on the defensive end of the floor, as evidenced by their 110.5 Defensive Rating. Similar to their recent offensive production, that rating has improved to 108.7 in Boston's past three games.
However, Boston will be forced to play without some impact players in this game. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are already been listed as out, and Malcolm Brogdon is a game-time decision with an achilles injury. That leaves Boston vulnerable on the defensive end of the floor, and it clearly takes away some of the main components of a high-powered scoring attack.
Grizzlies-Celtics Pick
We have two great teams that are both trending in an upward direction, but I believe the health advantage will benefit Memphis in this game and allow it to keep things close.
Boston has played great basketball as of late, but its three-game win streak comes as a result of a soft schedule. The Celtics past three matchups have been against Detroit, Philadelphia and Charlotte. (The Pistons and Hornets ranking in the bottom six of the NBA in Offensive and Defensive Rating.)
Memphis poses a new threat compared to what Boston has had to face recently. I think the Grizzlies' recent offensive resurgence on the perimeter will provide them with plenty of scoring opportunities against a Celtics team that will be without its top two perimeter defenders.
I like the Grizzlies to cover the spread and would play it to three.
Pick: Grizzlies +4 | Play to +3 |
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