It’s been a wild ride for the New Orleans Pelicans, who recently nabbed the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. But holding on to the postseason spot only figures to get tougher with Oklahoma City just a half-game behind and matchups against Western powerhouses Memphis (tonight), Houston and San Antonio on the horizon.
Can the Pelicans hold on until the end of the season? Read on as we break down this big Western clash. Fill your Wednesday night with some NBA flavor. Check out our complete previews for the Rockets vs. Spurs and Hawks vs. Nets.
[sc:NBAArticles ]New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview
Where: FedExForum, Memphis
When: Wednesday, April 8, 8:00 PM ET
Line: New Orleans Pelicans (+6) at Memphis Grizzlies (-6); total 186.0 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are surging. They’ve won five of their last six games, the last of which came against NBA-best Golden State on Tuesday. Anthony Davis starred in the 103-100 win over the Warriors, scoring 23 of his 29 points in the second half. Davis should be up for another big game against Memphis. He’s averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds in his last two games against the Grizzlies, both wins.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Davis also has an excellent supporting cast who could lift the pressure off him. Quincy Pondexter, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson all scored in double digits against the Warriors.
Pondexter (68 percent) and Gordon (57 percent), in particular, have sizzled from three-point range over the Pelicans’ last five games. They should be able to exploit Memphis’ three-point shooting defense which ranks in the bottom half of the league this season (35 percent, 17th).
Gordon has gone 6-for-9 from downtown in New Orleans’ last two games against Memphis (both at home), but is 0-of-5 at FedExForum this season. Pondexter is 1-of-4 from three-point range in his only game against his former team this season.
The Pelicans are 14-5 against the spread in the second game of back-to-backs this season.
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are stumbling on their way to the finish line. They’ve dropped four of their last six games, three of which came at home. The Grizzlies are averaging 86.3 points in those four defeats. To further compound Memphis’ struggles, small forward Jeff Green left in the third quarter of a 92-83 defeat to Washington on Saturday. He is questionable heading into this matchup due to back spasms.
Green has been a valuable contributor to the Grizzlies’ offense. He’s averaged 16.1 points over the last 10 games prior to the loss to Washington. He scored 20 in a March 7 loss to New Orleans. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies’ top two scorers, struggled in that game. They combined for just 15 points on 5-of-17 shooting and nine rebounds.
But look for Gasol and Randolph to find their form against New Orleans at FedExForum. They both finished with double-doubles against the Pelicans in their only matchup at Memphis this season. Gasol finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Randolph chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Memphis’ frontcourt duo should be able to make a living under the basket against the Pelicans’ questionable inside defense. New Orleans is ranked 29th in the league in points allowed in the paint (46.4 per game) this season. That is if they get past Pelicans big man Davis, who leads the league in blocks per game (2.95) this season.
The Grizzlies have won five of their last eight at home against the Pelicans, but are just 4-4 ATS in those games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Pelicans get another big win. Take New Orleans to cover +6. The road to the playoffs can’t be any more exciting. Create a betting account now and cash in on the big NBA action to come.
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