The Memphis Grizzlies knocked out the Oklahoma City Thunder without Russell Westbrook in five games during last year’s playoffs. With Westbrook now healthy and ready to support scoring champ Kevin Durant, will the no. 2 seed Thunder make even shorter work of the no. 7 Grizzlies?
With amazing sports action all over the schedule this month there’s never been a better time to join Top Bet and boost your bankroll with some well-read bets. Set up and account and read on for a complete breakdown of this compelling series.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1, Game 1 Betting Preview
Series Lines & Schedule
[sc:NBA240banner ]Game 1 – April 19, 9:30PM ET, Memphis (+7) at Oklahoma City (-7); total 192.5 – view all NBA lines
Game 2 – April 21, 9:30PM ET, Memphis at Oklahoma City
Game 3 – April 24, 10:30PM ET, Oklahoma City at Memphis
Game 4 – April 26, 9:30PM ET, Oklahoma City at Memphis
Game 5 (if necessary) – April 29, Memphis at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary) – May 1, Oklahoma City at Memphis
Game 7 (if necessary) – May 3, Memphis at Oklahoma City
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies needed to win to get in the playoffs, and win they did. The Grizzlies went 5-0 SU in their final five games, with huge wins over their direct rivals Phoenix and Dallas in the last two games to clinch the no. 7 seed.
The big man tandem of Zach Randolph (29.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG) and Marc Gasol (18.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG) came up big in both games. With the frontline the Grizzlies’ main source of offense, Randolph and Gasol’s play will be key in the series vs. OKC.
Randolph averaged just 16.5 PPG on 37% shooting in four games vs. the Thunder, while Gasol averaged 14 PPG and 3 RPG in three games as Memphis lost the season series, 3-1.
Point guard Mike Conley (17 PPG) has quietly had an excellent season, while the 3-point shooting of Mike Miller (45% from three this year) may be this series’ X-factor, as it was in the 2012 Heat-Thunder NBA Finals.
The Grizzlies are imposing at home, but are not so hot on the road. Memphis went just 5-5 SU/2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
Unlike other contenders who sat out their stars for the final few regular season games, Kevin Durant played on until the very last minute. Durant played 45 minutes and scored 42 points in the Thunder’s 112-111 win over the Pistons to secure the no. 2 seed in the West.
Durant played 40 minutes a game and averaged just under 31 PPG in April, but his 44% shooting from the field and 25% from three were way below his season totals, which could be a sign of fatigue creeping in. Thankfully, Russell Westbrook (26 PPG in April) is well-rested and looks ready to go for the playoffs.
The Thunder frontcourt of Serge Ibaka (15 PPG, 9 RPG vs. Memphis this season) and Kendrick Perkins have done well limiting the All-Star Grizzlies bigs offensively, while key reserve Reggie Jackson (15 PPG vs. Memphis) has also found success against the Grizzlies this season.
The Thunder owned the second-best home record in the regular season at 34-7, and have gone 11-1 SU in their last 12 games at the Chesapeake Arena.
Writer’s Prediction
The ‘Peake will be rocking and that energy will power the Thunder to an early lead in the series. Take OKC -7 to cover.
