The Memphis Grizzlies are limping into the playoffs, literally and figuratively. The Grizz haven’t looked like the same team that was the consensus No. 2 team in the West for most of the season. And now, injuries to some of their key players could see them drop further down the standings.
The Warriors have also taken the foot off the gas in the past few games, but they’ve continued to pile up the wins, especially at home. Can the Dubs dig the rival Grizzlies into a deeper playoff hole? Read on as we preview this Western Conference showdown.
Also in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to fight for their playoff lives. Check out our preview of the Blazers vs. Thunder.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors Preview
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland
When: Monday, April 13, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are getting crushed by injuries at the exact wrong time. The Grizz are still fighting for playoff seeding in the incredibly tight Western Conference, but they’ll likely finish out the regular season without star center Marc Gasol.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Gasol rolled his ankle in the Grizzlies’ 94-86 loss over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. The Grizzlies were also without point guard Mike Conley and defensive stopper Tony Allen in Los Angeles. Both are questionable to play in Golden State.
Losing Gasol, the team’s leading scorer with 17 points per game this season, will be a huge loss for the Grizzlies on offense. The team scores just 97.8 points per 100 possessions with Gasol out of the lineup, a mark which would be in the bottom three in the league this season.
His likely replacements, JaMychal Green and Kosta Koufos, won’t move the needle much on offense; the two have combined for three double-digit scoring games since March.
The Grizzlies will need Conley back in the lineup to stand any chance of creating enough offense to hang with the Warriors on the road. The Grizzlies could also use Beno Udrih’s renewed scoring touch to provide a spark off the bench. Udrih scored 34 points and shot 15-of-22 (68 percent) in the last two games he started in place of Conley.
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Betting on the Golden State Warriors
Despite locking up the best record in the NBA and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr seemingly has no intention to sit out his starters. This could be in part because his team has been playing with a bit of complacency just as the postseason is set to begin.
The Warriors are just 2-4 against the spread in their last six games, which include back-to-back road losses to the Spurs and Pelicans. They set a franchise record with their 37th home win – their 37-2 home mark is the best in the NBA – but they nearly squandered a 17-point lead against the conference-worst Minnesota Timberwolves in a 110-101 home win on Saturday.
A game against the wounded but playoff-bound Grizzlies could just be the game the Warriors need to get back on track. The Warriors thrashed a full-strength Grizzlies team, 107-84, in their most recent meeting on March 27. The Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, did most of the damage as they combined for 66 points and went 14-of-21 (66 percent) from beyond the arc.
Gasol’s absence should also open up even more space near the basket for the Warriors, who average 45.2 points in the paint per game, tied for second in the NBA. They’ve averaged 54 points in the paint in their last four games.
The Warriors have won 16 home games in a row, and have gone 10-6 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
The Warriors crush the shorthanded Grizzlies to win and cover at home.
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