The Memphis Grizzlies (48-27, 33-5 home) host the Los Angeles Clippers (40-36, 19-18 away) in the first of two back-to-back contests between two Western Conference playoff hopefuls. Los Angeles defeated the Grizzlies, 135-129, earlier this month in California in their first matchup of the season. The two teams will square off again on Friday night in Memphis.
Wednesday’s tip-off is at 8 p.m. EST inside the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is a five-point favorite, while the over/under total is 233.5 points.
What to Know – Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers wrapped up a recent homestand with a 2-2 record and have won seven of their last ten to close in on clinching a playoff spot. If the season ended today, Los Angeles would secure the five-seed in the Western Conference.
Offensively, the Clippers rank in the bottom half of the NBA, averaging 113.0 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.0% from deep. On defense, Los Angeles is 11th in the league, holding opponents to 112.6 ppg, 47.3% from the floor and 36.5% from beyond the arc.
Paul George (23.8 ppg) and Kawhi Leonard (23.6 ppg) serve as the Clippers two primary scorers on offense. In all, ten players on the Los Angeles roster are averaging over 10.3 ppg heading into Wednesday’s matchup.
Los Angeles is 38-28 against the spread and 20-17 ATS in road contests. In the last five matchups against Memphis, the Clippers are 0-5 ATS.
What to Know – Memphis Grizzlies
Winners of seven-straight, the Grizzlies have already wrapped up the division and sit three games back of Denver for the top seed. Memphis has lost only once since March 7th, going 10-1 over that timeframe.
The Grizzlies are one of the top offensive teams in the NBA, scoring 116.7 ppg thanks to a 47.4% shooting effort from the floor and 35.1% mark from three. Defensively, Memphis is also elite, ranking seventh in the league, surrendering 112.3 ppg, 45.1% shooting from the field and 35.0% from the 3-point line.
Even with the off-the-court problems hampering leading scorer Ja Morant (26.8 ppg), the Grizzlies have continued to roll thanks to an offensive effort primarily by Jaren Jackson Jr. In Morant’s absence the power forward had a pair of 30-point efforts while averaging 22.7 ppg during that period.
Memphis sports a 35-38-2 record ATS and a 22-15-1 mark ATS at home. The Grizzlies are 4-1 ATS in the previous five contests against the Clippers at home.
The Pick is In
Morant has already been ruled out for the contest, while the Clippers will be without the services of role players Marcus Morris and Norman Powell. Memphis has shown it can win without Morant, and the team hasn’t lost at home since the beginning of February.
Leonard and George keep it close for the visitors, but the Grizzlies defend their home court and keep their winning streak intact.
The Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -4.5
