The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t adjust well to not having star guard Ja Morant for the first 25 games. How could they? Anyone making Grizzlies vs Pelicans betting picks knows a franchise like Memphis doesn’t have many opportunities to make mistakes with roster building.
Grizzlies vs Pelicans Picks
The Pelicans should be able to win this one comfortably at home.
- Pick: Pelicans -8.5
Missing a large piece to their success has the Grizzlies stuck at 6-19 and likely to end up outside of the playoffs this season. But Memphis’ opponent New Orleans is in another sport entirely. The New Orleans Pelicans injury report hasn’t been too full this season and the Pelicans have maintained a spot in the top eight for most of the season. New Orleans would like to win a few more games to push themselves into the top six and avoid the play-in round.
Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds
- Moneyline: NBA odds show that New Orleans is an 8-point favorite. The Pelicans are -375 on the moneyline, while the Grizzlies are +290.
- Total: The over/under has been set at 230.5 points.
Grizzlies vs Pelicans Information
Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans
Location of the game: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date & Time: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 7:30 p.m.
How to watch: TNT
Grizzlies vs Pelicans Analysis
Morant’s return should jump-start Grizzlies’ offense
Morant likely won’t be perfect in his return. But that’s okay. Anyone who wants to make Grizzlies vs Pelicans betting picks will see that Memphis’ offense has suffered without him. Memphis is last in the league in points per game and field goal percentage.
Just having Morant back on the floor should make life easier for Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. Bane averages 24.6 points per game, while Jackson scores 21.4 per contest. The Memphis Grizzlies standings have been impacted first and foremost by not having much offensive depth behind Bane and Jackson.
Getting Morant back will make everyone’s lives easier.
Key Injuries
Bismack Biyombo may not be one of the NBA matchups Memphis can rely on as he is day-to-day with a back injury.
Betting Trends to Know
- Memphis is 9-16 against the spread this season.
- The Grizzlies have seen 15 of their 25 games go under the total.
- Memphis is 0-5 against the spread in the last five games.
- Three of the Grizzlies last five games have gone under the total.
Pelicans are heating up
The New Orleans lineup has benefited greatly from having Zion Williamson available for most of the season. Anyone making Grizzlies vs Pelicans betting picks will see that New Orleans is 10th in the league in field goal percentage. The Pelicans have also done a good job limiting their opponents’ opportunities from the perimeter.
What makes New Orleans so tough to slow down is the number of scoring options it has available. During any of the NBA games the Pelicans play in, they have three players — Brandon Ingram (23.1 points per game), Williamson (22.5), and C.J. McCollum (20.6) — that can score more than 20 points.
Key Injuries
Pelicans small forward Naji Marshall is day-to-day with a right ankle sprain.
Betting Trends to Know
- New Orleans is 16-10-1 against the spread this season.
- The Pelicans are 3-2 against the spread over the past five games.
- Fourteen of New Orleans’ games have gone under the total.
- The Pelicans have seen three of their past four go over the total.
Grizzlies vs Pelicans Betting Picks
People looking at making Grizzlies vs Pelicans betting picks should lean toward New Orleans on the moneyline. The Pelicans are a more cohesive team so far this season. New Orleans should be able to take advantage of a Memphis team trying to work Morant back into the lineup.
NBA team stats show this game should go over the total. The Pelicans are happy to push the pace and Memphis will be willing to try and keep up.
Anyone making NBA picks should take a look at the New Orleans spread. The Pelicans should be able to win this one comfortably at home.
Grizzlies vs Pelicans Prediction
- NBA Pick: Pelicans -8.5
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