Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
When: Friday, March 31, 2017, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Dallas Mavericks (+4.5) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (-4.5); total: 192.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: NBATV
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Betting on the Dallas Mavericks (31-43)
Dallas’ chances of making the playoffs are getting slimmer and slimmer. The Mavericks are winless in three games and they come to Memphis later tonight five games behind of the eighth spot in the western conference with only eight games remaining on their regular season schedule.
The Mavericks are coming off a 121-118 road loss to New Orleans on Wednesday in which fans saw some vintage performance from Dirk Nowitzki, who shot 7-for-14 from the field with two threes to finish with 23 points. Yogi Ferrell, meanwhile, fired 15 points off the bench.
Speaking of bench production, Dallas has to coax more from its relievers this time around against Memphis. The Mavs’ second stringers were outscored by their Memphis counterparts, albeit in a 104-100 win on Mar. 3, 38-20.
Nerlens Noel was tremendous in that game, scoring 15 points and collaring 17 rebounds to go with two blocks. He’ll play a bigger role tonight in trying to slow down Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph with backup center Salah Mejri taking a rest.
Dallas has covered the spread in six of its last eight games in Memphis.
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies (41-34)
Nowitzki showed the other night against the Pelicans that he still could do it. Vince Carter also proved he has old man game, as he scored 21 points on just eight shots during a 110-97 win over the Pacers on Wednesday to help the Grizzlies end a four-game slump.
Carter and Mike Conley waxed hot from the outside against Indiana, combining for 11 of the Grizzlies’ 12 threes. Memphis has found its stroke from deep in the two games so far this season against the Mavs, as the Grizzlies averaged 9.0 threes on 34.0 percent clip.
Defensively, the Grizzlies will face a Dallas squad that is among the worst in the league in scoring. While the Mavericks scored 121 points against the Pelicans that was uncharacteristic of them. After all, they’re 30th in the NBA with an average of just 100.4 PPG. Memphis’ tighter defense should be able to limit the Mavericks, who shot just 28.8% from the field in the Grizzlies’ 80-64 road win back in Nov. 18.
Memphis is 3-0 ATS in its last three at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Memphis (-4.5) wins, 100-97.
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