The Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Clippers in NBA action on Wednesday night.
Memphis is in second place in the Western Conference standings while L.A. sits fifth and with just three games separating the Clips from the 11th-place Mavericks, every game counts.
NBA odds opened with the Grizzlies as 4-point home favorites with the Over/Under at 233.5. Here are my best free Clippers vs. Grizzlies NBA picks and predictions for March 29.
Clippers vs Grizzlies best odds
Clippers vs Grizzlies picks and predictions
The Los Angeles Clippers could be a bit disjointed on the road in this contest since they've benefitted from a cushy schedule over the last month. They've played only one game outside of California since February 27 (at Portland on March 19) and nine of their last 10 games have been at home.
Now, they travel all the way to Memphis to face a Grizzlies team that is 32-5 straight up (22-15-1 against the spread) at FedExForum with an average scoring margin of +11.2 ppg.
Ja Morant, who leads the Memphis Grizzlies in points (26.8) and assists (8.1) per game, is currently listed as questionable with a thigh injury after sitting out last night. However, he seems on track to play and even if he doesn't, the Grizz are a dangerous team without him having won seven of the last eight games he's missed.
The Clippers have injury concerns of their own with Paul George (23.8 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Marcus Morris sidelined and Norman Powell upgraded to questionable last night after missing the last 11 games with a shoulder injury.
Without George's scoring and facilitating prowess and Morris' ability to stretch the floor as a big, L.A.'s offense can get stagnant and too reliant on Kawhi Leonard. That's bad news against a Grizzlies squad that ranks third in the NBA in defensive rating and allows the second-fewest points per game (108.8) at home.
Without George and Powell, Russell Westbrook has been getting a high usage rate and we all know his problems with shot selection and turnovers. Those problems will be exacerbated by a Grizzlies team that ranks seventh in the league in opponent turnover rate and turns those mistakes into easy buckets on the other end of the floor.
My best bet: Grizzlies -4 (-110 at FanDuel)
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Clippers vs Grizzlies spread analysis
The Grizzlies are locked into a Top 3 seed in the Western Conference but with the Clippers sitting half a game behind fourth-place Phoenix and three games ahead of 11th-place Dallas, they can't afford to slip up.
Memphis is 10-1 SU (5-5-1 ATS) in its last 11 games, which is all the more impressive when you consider that Morant played in only three of those contests after serving a suspension and sitting out last night.
Starting center Steven Adams has missed the last two months with a knee injury while key reserve Brandon Clarke suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of the month.
Xavier Tillman has stepped up in their absence and the Grizz haven't missed a beat boasting the third-best net rating (+6.2) in the NBA since the All-Star break.
The Clippers look like one of the better teams in the league when both Leonard and George suit up, but that's rarely been the case. Since George suffered his latest setback last Tuesday, the Clips have gone 2-1 SU and ATS and alternated wins and losses over their previous six contests.
Leonard (23.6 ppg) has been carrying the team and the Clips have a net rating of +4.2 in the 47 games he's played compared to -5.7 in the 29 contests he's missed. However, George was also on the floor for 38 of those 47 games.
Clippers vs Grizzlies Over/Under analysis
The Grizzlies are ninth in the NBA in pace and that combined with their low turnover rate and strong work on the offensive glass has led to them averaging 116.7 ppg. They're also third in the league in fastbreak points per game (17.6) while the Clippers are 20th in points per game allowed on the fastbreak (14.3).
However, the Grizzlies have also been locking down on D at home where they allow the lowest field goal percentage (45.1%) in the league.
The Clips haven't been scoring at a high rate (113 ppg) and with George and Morris sidelined along with possibly Powell, they could have a tough time generating offense tonight.
That said, L.A. has picked up its tempo lately and ranks 15th in the league in pace since acquiring Westbrook after sitting 24th in that category before the trade.
Clippers vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
In the last five meetings between these Western Conference foes, the Grizzlies have gone 5-0 ATS with the Over cashing in every contest. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Grizzlies.
Clippers vs Grizzlies game info
| Location: | FedExForum, Memphis, TN |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 29, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally SoCal, Bally Southeast |
