Grizzlies vs. Hawks Pick
Which 30-loss team will avoid No. 31 tonight when the Atlanta Hawks host the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Hawks are the slight favorite in this game, as Atlanta is getting odds of -4 points against Memphis. The over/under total for the game is listed at 203.5 points. Atlanta won the first meeting this season, 107-90 at Memphis back on March 11.
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Memphis has answered a five-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over Milwaukee and Chicago to get to 38-30 on the season. The Grizz sit in the seventh seed in the West right now, 15.5 games out of first place. Memphis is 34-34 against the spread on the season after going 2-5 ATS in their last seven. The Grizzlies are putting up 101.3 points per game on offense while allowing 100.6 on defense this season. Away from home they average 103.5 points per game but allow 103.9. Marc Gasol has been leading the team with 20.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while Mike Conley adds 20 points and 6.2 assists per contest.
Atlanta is coming off a 107-99 loss at San Antonio on Monday to drop to 37-30 on the season. The Hawks are in the fifth spot in the East right now, 7.5 games out of first. Atlanta is just 31-36 against the spread this season. The Hawks average 103.9 points per game on offense while allowing 104.4 on defense. When at home, the Hawks put up 106.4 points per game but also allow 106.1 on defense. Paul Millsap is averaging 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to lead the team while Dennis Schroder is putting up 17.9 points and 6.3 assists per contest.
This game should be a grind, as Memphis is a physical team, but the Grizzlies have been struggling against winning teams as of late, going 0-5 ATS in their last five against winning opponents. The Hawks have covered in six straight Thursday night games and they are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 meetings with Memphis at home. I look for the Hawks to find a way to win and cover tonight.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: ATLANTA HAWKS -4