A top-of-the-table clash is in the offing this coming Friday as the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers collide in a showdown at the Moda Center. The Blazers are riding high after winning their ninth-straight game on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.They will have their work cut out for them, though, against the streaking Memphis Grizzlies who own the league’s best record at 13-2.
Can the Blazers extend their winning streak to 10 games? Or will the Grizzlies put an end to their hot run? Read on for a preview of this matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Bulls vs. Celtics and Clippers vs. Rockets.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Where: Moda Center, Portland
When: Friday, November 28, 2014, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Memphis Grizzlies (+3.5) at Portland Trail Blazers (-3.5); total: 193.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
It sure wasn’t pretty but the Memphis Grizzlies’ victory train continues to roll on as they opened their four-game road trip with a tough 99-93 win over the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies once again, as he scored 19 points and grabbed 11 boards to send Memphis into a tie with Toronto for the league’s best record (13-2).
[sc:NBA240banner ]They will have a fight in their hands, though, this coming Friday, when they travel to Portland to face the red-hot Blazers. This showdown starts a tough six-game stretch for Memphis that includes games with Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Miami and Dallas.
The Grizzlies, though, will hold no fear, for any of those opponents because of the outstanding play of Gasol. The Spanish star is averaging 19.8 points per game this season to lead all Memphis scorers. However, it’s his defense, which is proving to be the catalyst for the Grizzlies’ success this season.
He is averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.27 steals per game this season as he and Zach Randolph have formed an intimidating presence up front. With the Grizzlies’ bruise brothers patrolling the paint it has been difficult for their opponents to score in the shaded area. Opposing teams have scored just 38.4 points per game against them inside the paint, the fourth-worst mark in the NBA.
They will be in for a long night, though, against the Blazers who are the league-leaders in rebounds this season with 47.9 boards per game. The Blazers have utilized their edge in the rebounding department, averaging 15.9 points in second-chance opportunities, second-highest in the NBA this year.
The onus then is on Randolph and Gasol to control the boards for the Grizzlies and in the process dictate the tempo of the game as well. The two have combined for an average of 19.9 rebounds this season. If they can limit the Blazers in that regard, they will have a great opportunity in ending the Blazers’ winning run.
The Grizzlies are 5-2 on the road this season.
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Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
Wesley Matthews made sure that Portland returned home with their winning streak still intact scoring 20 of his 28 points in the second half to key the Blazers’ comeback in their thrilling 105-97 victory over the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night.
The victory extended their winning run to a league-best nine games. That streak, however, will surely be put to the test this coming Friday, when they host the Western Conference leaders Memphis Grizzlies.
The Blazers will fancy their chances of beating the Grizzlies, though, especially with the way they are hitting their outside shots. The Blazers are shooting at a high 39.0 percent clip from beyond the arc, third-best in the NBA. They are also second in the league in three-pointers made, netting 10 a game this season.
Leading the way for the Blazers in that department is their backcourt duo of Wesley Matthews and Damien Lillard. The two are averaging a combined 5.7 triples a game this season. In their last game against Charlotte, Matthews drained six out of nine three-point attempts while Lillard buried four of his own en route to a 22-point outing.
Their perimeter shooting is a key part of the Blazers’ arsenal this season, with 28.7 percent of their offense coming from the three-point land, second-highest in the NBA. Still, if they are to stand a chance against the Grizzlies, they will need to get their frontcourt involved as well, LaMarcus Aldridge in particular .
Aldridge leads the Blazers this season in points (21.2) and rebounds (9.1) but was contained in their last game against the Hornets. He only shot 3-of-18 from the field the last time out and was held down to just nine points.
It won’t get any easier for him against the Grizzlies as they are third in the league in scoring defense allowing just 92.4 points per game. Aldridge also has struggled against the Grizzlies in his career averaging just 16.5 points in 26 games against them, his lowest mark against any NBA team.
The Blazers are 8-1 at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
The Blazers edge past the Grizzlies to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
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