The Detroit Pistons (8-20, 2-12 away) take on the Memphis Grizzlies (12-12, 5-8 home) in a cross-conference contest on Friday night. Friday’s matchup will be the only meet-up between the two squads this season. The game tips off at 8 p.m. EST inside the FedExForum in Memphis, TN. Memphis is a 5-point favorite in the cross-conference tilt, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Detroit Pistons
It has been a trying season for the Pistons, who find themselves in the cellar of the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons have turned things around a bit, winning three of their last five games.
Detroit averages 108.7 points per game offensively, one of the worst in the league in scoring. The Pistons shot 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Pistons surrender 112.7 points per game, 48.3% from the field, and 38.3% from the three-point line.
Forward Jerami Grant leads the Pistons averaging 23.8 points per game. Grant is the only Piston to start every game this season for Detroit.
In Wednesday’s 105-102 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, Grant erupted for a season-high 43 points. Grant finished 15-of-25 from the field, including 4-of-9 from three. The Pistons were only 8-of-28 from the arc were outrebounded 46-40 by the host.
Detriot is 14-11-3 against the spread this season, with a 4-1-1 record over their last six. The Pistons are 1-5 ATS against the Grizzlies in recent contests and 5-6-3 on the road.
What to Know – Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies find themselves winners of three of their last five but one-game behind the Western Conference’s eighth spot. Memphis didn’t play for nearly two weeks at the end of January due to postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Offensively the Grizzlies average 111.8 points per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 37.1% from three. Memphis holds opponents to 112.5 points per game, an average behind 48.0% field goal shooting and 39.0% three-point shooting.
The Grizzlies have eight players averaging in double figures, led by guard Ja Morant scoring 18.8 ppg. Center Jonas Valanciunas adds 16.5 ppg and 10.8 RPG with 13 double-doubles this year.
Valanciunas and guard Grayson Allen each scored a team-high 22 points in Wednesday night’s 122-113 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morant filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds for the triple-double.
Memphis sports a 12-11-1 record ATS, including a 4-6 mark over their last ten contests. The Grizzlies are 5-7-1 on their home floor and 5-5-1 against Eastern Conference foes.
The Pick is In
Detriot has many off-the-court issues inside the locker room with veteran Blake Griffin’s refusal to play until he is traded. This is coupled with the fact that the Pistons have one of the worst offenses in the league. With the issues surrounding the Pistons both on and off the court, we will take the host here to cover.
The Pick: Memphis -5
