Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers Preview
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indiana
When: Friday, February 24, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Memphis Grizzlies (-1) vs. Indiana Pacers (+1); total: 207.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: NBATV
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Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies (34-24)
Memphis’ second half of the season begins on the road, as the Grizzlies take on an Indiana team that appears to be spinning out of control. The Grizzlies are 5=1 SU and ATS in their last six games away from home.
The Grizzlies entered the All-Star break on the heels of a 95-91 home loss to New Orleans, a game that saw Memphis shot 6-for-33 from deep. Three-point shooting hasn’t been Grizzlies’ forte this season so it came with a bit of surprise why they settled mostly on launching bricks from downtown. The Grizzlies are shooting just 35.3 percent on their three-point attempts. Hopefully, they’ll do better against Indiana but they’re likely going to throw around their weight inside the paint with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph teaming up in the frontcourt.
Gasol has averaged 17.0 points and 8.6 rebounds over the last five games. Randolph, on the other hand, has put up 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds during the same stretch.
Mike Conley, who scored 17 points in the Pelicans game but went 3-for-10 from the three-point area, is second on the team this season with 19.3 PPG to go with 6.2 APG.
Memphis is 27th in the league in scoring (100.8 PPG) but is third in defense with opponents averaging just 99.5 PPG.
Betting on the Indiana Pacers (29-28)
Well, the Pacers still have Paul George, which is either a good or a bad thing depending on where you stand regarding the future of the Pacers. What’s certainly ugly for the team is its six-game losing skid, a misery the Pacers will try to end later tonight at home.
The Pacers, who lost to Washington, 111-98, before the All-Star break, have a poor defense to blame mostly for their latest series of wipeouts. The only other PG (besides George) about this team is its defense that must be required to have a Parental Guidance stamp after allowing opponents to score 115.7 points on 49.1 FG% over their six-game losing rut.
As mentioned earlier, Memphis isn’t a great offensive team so the Pacers, after a long rest, should do better defensively this time around. For all their faults on defense, the Pacers have done a solid job in patrolling the paint, allowing the fifth fewest points in the shaded area this season per NBA.com stats.
With George staying put in Indiana, he’ll look to lead the team again. George paces the team in points with 22.3 per game. Myles Turner is chipping in 15.6 PPG to go with 7.2 RPG and 2.11 BPG.
The over is 3-1 in Indiana’s last four at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Memphis (-1) wins, 101-97.
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