Cavaliers vs Grizzlies Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Mitchell & Co. Take Care of Business in Memphis

The Cleveland Cavaliers welcomed Darius Garland back to the court on Wednesday night, and then used an early lead to cruise past the Pistons.

While the Memphis Grizzlies are not as historically bad as the Pistons, they too are spiraling in the NBA odds. In fact, the Cavaliers are getting the worst form of the Grizzlies, somehow spectacularly worse at home than they are on the road.

An early lead should again be enough for Cleveland, so let’s count on last night’s script repeating in our free NBA picks and predictions for Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies on February 1.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies odds

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies predictions

With Darius Garland playing in his first game since mid-December, the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out early on Detroit last night. 

A 12-3 run across four minutes in the middle of the first quarter effectively decided the game. The Cavs had a seven-point lead at the end of the first frame, and each quarter the rest of the way saw the scoring margin finish within two points.

Yet, Cleveland hardly stressed. Only Donovan Mitchell played more than 30 minutes, scoring 45 points as he did so. The second night of a back-to-back will still bother the Cavaliers, but that scheduling headache cannot get much easier than facing the Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies.

Somehow, someway, Memphis finds ways for its injury report to get worse. At this point, the return of second-year guard Vince Williams from a sore knee is seen as pivotal news. No disrespect to Williams, but he is not someone who should slow Mitchell.

No one on the Grizzlies’ roster is someone who should slow Mitchell at this point. With no Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, or even Luke Kennard, there is no trusted backcourt defender to counter one of the NBA’s most explosive playmakers. Besides, this is a team that needs John Konchar to play 26 minutes each night.

The same could be said of the Pistons last night — well, aside from the Konchar bit, specifically. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are too young and not strong enough to hold up against Mitchell.

That 12-3 run across four minutes in last night’s first quarter? Nine of those points came from Mitchell, and he added three more assists in his first stint of the night. That kind of early focus tonight should give the Cavs enough of a cushion to cruise to the line against the depleted Grizzlies.

Sportsbooks know to account for back-to-backs, and thus this full-game spread is only -8 in Cleveland’s favor. Frankly, the way the Cavaliers handled last night, they may cover that number in the first half and then keep pace the rest of the night.

Let’s bet on that first half and not worry about any late-game nonsense.

My best bet: Cavaliers first half -4.5 (-108 at DraftKings)

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

Cavaliers first half -4.5

Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points

Grizzlies team total Under 103.5

+545 at DraftKings

Some thought was given to a DraftKings prop of Mitchell to score at least eight points in the first quarter. He very well may, but basing a bet on that small of a sample size poses too much of a risk.

Through the game, though, Mitchell should be assured of getting his. The Cavaliers are a well-rounded team … as long as Mitchell is scoring. Last night, he kept that in mind, going 6-of-13 from deep.

Garland lost 12 pounds when he first broke his jaw, a liquid diet being one of life’s worst curses. He put most of that back on, but it is fair to expect he will be worn out tonight. Missing seven weeks of action and then going straight into a back-to-back is a tough ask.

There should be even more of an emphasis on Mitchell being a franchise player tonight.

On the other side of the ball, Memphis has only one reliable offensive piece right now, which is ironically the defending Defensive Player of the Year. Jaren Jackson Jr. has averaged 24.1 points in the last month. but he should struggle against the Cavs.

Cleveland has enough quality post defenders, most notably Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, to slow Jackson. Without him dazzling, the Grizzlies will struggle to reach triple digits.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Cavaliers vs Grizzlies spread and Over/Under analysis

After the Cavs dispatched the Pistons, this spread opened with Cleveland as a short favorite of 5.5 points. However, as of Thursday morning, that has since steamed up to -8.

Perhaps sportsbooks put too much faith in Memphis getting players back, but Kennard and Derrick Rose remain doubtful. Then again, how much can either Kennard or Rose be worth to a spread in 2024?

The total fell in tandem with the spread rising. After opening at 218.5, it dropped on Thursday morning to 215. That makes sense when looking at the Grizzlies’ roster, and it even more so when realizing how much of an offensive load Jackson will need to carry.

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The Cavaliers are 2-4 against the spread on the second night of their six back-to-backs this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies.

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