Rockets vs. Grizzlies Pick
Will the host Memphis Grizzlies wrap up the season series with the Houston Rockets with a win tonight when the two teams meet at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Rockets are a 7.5-point favorite on the spread line. The over-under is set at 214 points.
Houston comes in with a 12-4 overall record and 9-7 ATS after a 142-116 blowout win at the Suns. Memphis is 7-7 overall and 6-8 ATS following a 116-113 home loss to the Pacers, its third defeat in a row. The Grizzlies have won two of the first three meetings straight up and ATS this season. The under has gone 3-0.
The Rockets scored 45 points in each of the first two quarters during the win at Phoenix Thursday night, leading 90-67 at halftime. James Harden led the way with 48 points and seven assists. Ryan Anderson tallied 24 points and four rebounds. Eric Gordon scored 13 off the bench. Chris Paul had 11 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes as he returned to action after missing a month.
Memphis was paced by Marc Gasol as he accounted for 35 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and five blocks in the loss to Indiana. Tyreke Evans had 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds off the bench. Chandler Parsons added 13 points off the bench. The Grizzlies were without Mike Conley, who is out an indefinite period with an Achilles issue. Memphis trailed 67-53 at halftime en route to the loss.
The Rockets are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 meetings in Memphis. The under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
This would have been a lot more interesting if Conley was healthy. Now with Paul back in the fold and likely to play more minutes tonight, the Rockets are back in full force. It’s a Houston squad that was already playing in high gear and it will certainly take advantage of the Grizzlies being without a co-leader. Take the Rockets here.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ROCKETS -7.5