A pair of NBA teams trending in opposite directions meet when the Memphis Grizzlies pay a visit to the Charlotte Hornets at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The NBA matchups have favored the Grizzlies over the years and will continue to do so this season.
At 23-13, the Grizzlies are competing for the top spot in the Western Conference, entering Tuesday a half-game behind the conference leaders, the Denver Nuggets. The Grizzlies got off to a hot start and have been a top contender among NBA expert picks entering this season, and favored as such by oddsmakers.
The Hornets schedule seemingly never gets any easier for a team who is 10-28 entering Tuesday. Charlotte was thought of as a playoff team, but that has not been the case. LaMelo Ball is a great guard but he needs more help, particularly on the interior.
Here is a breakdown of what bettors need to know before making Grizzlies vs. Hornets betting picks.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Charlotte Hornets Game Info and Analysis
Memphis Grizzlies Performance Recap and Analysis
One of the best teams in the NBA is particularly strong on the defensive end, Grizzlies stats show. They are eighth in allowing 111.1 points per game and have the best mark in defensive efficiency, leading the NBA in holding teams to 44.3% on field goal attempts. Their defense lapses some on the perimeter, where opponents convert 35.9% of 3-point shots, which is 15th in the league. They are 17th in, allowing 43.6 rebounds per game.
Offensively, the Grizzlies are ninth in scoring 115.4 points per game but haven’t been particularly efficient. They are 20th in making 46.6% of field goal attempts, 22nd in making 24.3% of 3-point shots, and last at the free throw line, making 71.4% of free throw attempts. They are, however, the top rebounding team at 49.0 per game.
NBA player stats show how balanced the Grizzlies are behind star Ja Morant. Six total players are averaging double figures in scoring. Morant leads the way at 27.2 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game. Behind him is Desmond Bane, who took a step last season, at 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Key Injuries
It’s a lengthy injury report for the Grizzlies. Danny Green remains out until at least February with a knee injury. Guard Vince Williams Jr. has been out indefinitely since Christmas Day with a hip injury. For Wednesday, four players are questionable – Bane (rest), Brandon Clarke (hip), Ziaire Williams (knee), and Santi Aldama (ankle).
Betting Trends to Know
The Grizzlies are 18-17-1 against the spread this season and 16-20 on over/unders. They are 8-10 straight up on the road, but the NBA schedule favors them when they get home games with a 15-3 home record. As a favorite, they are 16-13-1, which includes a 10-6 record when favored by 1 to 4.5 points.
Charlotte Hornets Performance Recap and Analysis
The Hornets have had a rough go of it this season. They are among the worst teams in the NBA on both sides of the ball, per NBA team stats.
Offensively, the Hornets are 25th in scoring 111.4 points per game, second last in making 44.5% of field goal attempts, and have the worst rate on 3-point shots at 32.2%. They are also 26th in making 74.5% of their free throw attempts. They are, however, fifth in rebounding at 45.8 per game.
But defensively, they are third worst in allowing 118.1 points per game. They are 24th in allowing teams to convert 48.1% of field goal attempts. They are 14th in holding teams to 35.8% on 3-point shots. Their defensive rebounding rate is third worst, allowing 46.3 per contest.
Ball has had a strong season, averaging 23.7 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game in 14 games. Complementary guard Terry Rozier has played 28 games and is averaging 20.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. The Hornets have had some health issues this season, though.
Key Injuries
Among those out is Cody Martin, who has a knee injury and is out till mid-January at least. Gordon Hayward is questionable with a hamstring injury, and Kelly Oubre Jr. is questionable with a hand injury after sitting Monday. Oubre is the team’s second-best scorer at 20.2 points per game.
Betting Trends to Know
The Hornets are 16-19-3 against the spread and 18-19-1 on over/unders this season. They are 5-13 straight up at home. As an underdog, they are 12-13-3, including a 5-3-1 mark when underdogs of 10 to 12 points. They have not covered often when favored by 1 to 7 points, sporting a 5-8-2 record in that range.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Charlotte Hornets Odds
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Charlotte Hornets Betting Picks
Even though we don’t have exact odds, here are our Grizzlies vs. Hornets betting picks relative to what the prior meeting’s odds were.
Moneyline
Whatever the moneyline ends up being, the Grizzlies will be heavy favorites but should win.
Over/Under
We like the over-to-hit in this game because of how poor each team is defensively, but if Oubre and Hayward are out, we will lean toward the under at around 224 points.
Spread
The Grizzlies have had some road struggles, so we’re confident they will win the game outright. We also think this is an opponent they’ll dominate and will cover double digits.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Charlotte Hornets Score Prediction
It’s hard to make Grizzlies vs. Hornets betting picks and not knowing what those lines are or what the public is thinking. Rest assured; it will probably be heavy on the Grizzlies after their 31-point win in November.
NBA Pick:
- Grizzlies: 124
- Hornets: 97
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