San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies Game 6 Preview
Where: FedExForum – Memphis, TN
When: Thursday, April 26, 2017 – 9:30 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs (-4) at Memphis Grizzlies (+4); total: 190.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (-190)
Game 5 saw the Spurs continue the series’ trend of the home team winning every time, as they manhandled the Grizzlies, 116-103. They splashed 14 treys, powered for 48 points in the paint, and shot over 52 percent from the floor.
It was a balanced attack, as six were able to score in double figures, including Patty Mills, who sunk five threes and tallied a postseason-best 20, and 15-year veteran Manu Ginobili, who chipped in 10 points, three assists, and three steals in just 18 minutes of action. Such was a good bounce back from last Saturday’s uncharacteristic display, where it was the “Kawhi Leonard Show” for the Spurs.
Leonard has been superb in the playoff matchup. He’s netting 31.6 points per contest on 57.6 percent shooting in the series. In these past five games, if he’s not scoring 28 or above, he’s shooting 54 percent or better. Look for him to continue the tear, because no one in the Memphis can cover him effectively – he’s too fast for the bigs and too strong for the wings.
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies (+160)
The Grizzlies’ Game 5 was simply a missed opportunity. They failed to capitalize on all of the momentum brought by the easy win in Game 3 and the heart-stopping, last-second victory in Game 4.
What makes it even more concerning, aside from being put on the brink of elimination, is that they got dominated despite shooting the ball well from everywhere, which was a rarity – they are dead-last in the league in field goal percentage and the 51.4 shooting clip on Tuesday was their third-highest all season. Additionally, they are 60-for-66 from the foul line in their last three games (90.9 percent).
Among the key notes on the Memphis in the matchup’s five games is the production of Mike Conley (24.4 PPG, 7.4 APG) and Marc Gasol (19.6 PPG). The two have done much of the heavy lifting on the team’s recent rise on offense (106 PPG in its last three), and they are the lone Grizzlies to score in double-digits in all of the series’ five games.
Gasol’s number one partner down low, Zach Randolph, only had nine points and six rebounds in Game 5 after posting 17 points and 9.7 boards in the previous three.
As for the defense, although the tenacity is still there, the Grizz are missing the services of elite defender Tony Allen big time, as they have no answer for Kawhi Leonard, who is capable of single-handedly advancing San Antonio.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spurs (-4) send the Grizz into vacation mode, but won’t cover the spread, 103-100.
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