It was business as usual for the Memphis Grizzlies. Playing tough defense, the Grizzlies blew out the Sacramento Kings 103-89 on the road Tuesday night. They now continue on the road to face the Portland Trail Blazers, who are coming off back-to-back victories. Which team takes this Western Conference clash? Read on as we take a look at the action to come.
It’s a loaded night of NBA action. Check out our complete previews for the Hornets vs. Mavericks and Heat vs. Timberwolves.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers Preview
Where: Moda Center, Portland
When: Thursday, November 5, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
Zach Randolph had a double-double as he scored 20 points and hauled in 11 rebounds in Tuesday night’s 103-89 win over Sacramento. Randolph is averaging just12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season, while frontcourt mate Marc Gasol is scoring 12 points while hauling in 5.6 rebounds per game.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Randolph and Gasol are due for big games against Portland tonight. Randolph averaged in double-double figures (16.5 points and 10.3 rebounds) in four regular season games against the Blazers last season. Meanwhile, Gasol was a monster scorer with 18.8 points per game in the four matchups.
The Grizzlies could also count on solid play from point guard Mike Conley, who leads the team with13.4 points per game thus far this season. Conley has been Memphis’ premier playmaker with seven assists per game this season. He was spectacular in this matchup a year ago, dropping 18 points and 8.7 assists per game in three games.
When it comes to defense, the Grizzlies could always rely on defensive specialist Tony Allen to create some takeaways. He’s currently averaging 1.8 steals per contest through five games this year. He’ll be a solid matchup against Portland’s turnover-prone point guard Damian Lillard, who leads the team with 4.5 turnovers per game.
The Grizzlies won eight of nine matchups (7-1-1 ATS) against Portland last season, including the playoffs.
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
With pretty much all of last season’s starters gone, Portland is Damian Lillard’s to own. He dropped a season-high 35 points in a 108-92 victory at Utah on Wednesday night. It was Lillard’s second straight game with 30-plus points this season.
Lillard had plenty of help with running mate C.J. McCollum scoring 27 points. Al-Farouq Aminu chipped in 13 points of his own. Meanwhile, Mason Plumlee was solid with 12 points and 16 rebounds. McCollum has been extremely hot from three-point range, making 42.4 percent of his three-pointers this season.
Having McCollum making threes is a nice complement to Lillard’s own three-point shooting. Lillard made 5 of 11 from downtown against the Jazz last night. Memphis is pretty vulnerable against the three ball, allowing opponents to shoot 39.3 percent from beyond the arc (25th in the league).
It’s also intriguing how Portland’s frontcourt matches up against Memphis Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Plumlee hasn’t been too dominant on the boards with 5.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Meyers Leonard is only hauling in 4.8 rebounds per game. Backup power forward Ed Davis leads the way with 8.8 rebounds per game.
The total has gone under in Portland’s last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Blazers’ backcourt of Lillard and McCollum will be too difficult for Memphis to handle. Take Portland to win at home. Create a betting account now and cash in on some NBA action.
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