Game 1 of this Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series ended with a whimper, as the contest ended 131-80 in OKC's favor after being decided very early on.
The Thunder are looking ahead to tonight, where they can take a 2-0 lead. Can Memphis bounce back from a devastating loss and stay competitive in Game 2, or will OKC deliver a second straight blowout?
My Grizzlies vs. Thunder predictions expect Ja Morant to step up as a scorer and do his best to avenge the historic loss. Read my NBA picks to see why I’m backing Morant’s points prop in Game 2 on Tuesday, April 22.
Who will win Grizzlies vs Thunder Game 2?
The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t blow out the Memphis Grizzlies by 51 again, but they’ll head to Memphis up 2-0 in the series. OKC is in a different class, and they’ve won by 15+ points in eight of their last nine meetings.
Grizzlies vs Thunder prediction
My best bet: Ja Morant Over 22.5 points (-120 at bet365)
Ja Morant averaged 23.2 points per game this season, and his point prop is set at a modest 22.5 for Tuesday’s crucial Game 2. Morant led Memphis in scoring in Sunday’s Game 1 blowout, going for 17 points in 26 minutes. He scored exactly 22 in two Play-In games leading up to Sunday’s loss.
In 50 games played this season, Morant scored 23+ points 28 times. He averaged 22.9 at home compared to 23.6 on the road. Away from FedExForum, he dropped at least 23 points in 13 of 22 appearances and finished with exactly 22 points in one more.
Morant ended the 2024-25 regular season on a high note. He averaged just 20.7 points per game before the All-Star break but increased to 27.6 points per game after the break. He scored at least 23 points in 14 of 18 games to close out the campaign, dropping exactly 22 points once more.
When asked how his team will respond to Sunday’s blowout loss, Morant was blunt. “We will never play that bad again,” he told reporters in the post-game presser. The superstar guard tweaked his ankle in Tuesday’s Play-In loss to Golden State but played through the issue with a big performance in Friday’s big win over Dallas.
Playing a late Friday game to advance to the playoffs and then meeting the No. 1 seed at lunchtime on Sunday hardly seemed like a recipe for success for Morant or his teammates. I expect the entire Memphis team to play better, which should result in more playing time for Morant late in the game. After logging 26 minutes and getting a couple of days to recover, he should be at his best.
I’m hammering the Over on Morant’s scoring line, as I expect him to do all he can to get his team back on track and make Game 1 a distant memory.
Grizzlies vs Thunder same-game parlay
Ja Morant Over 22.5 points
Desmond Bane Over 29.5 points + rebounds + assists
Zach Edey 10+ rebounds
I’m staying far away from the spread and the point total here. While I’m confident Memphis will play far better than it did in Game 1, OKC is simply too good a team to confidently bet Memphis against the spread, even with an inflated line. Instead, I’ll take aim at two additional player props.
First up is Bane, who — according to StatMuse — is the only player in the 21st century to register a plus-minus of at least -50. He, like Morant, will surely be laser-focused on delivering a more competitive game. He averaged 30.6 PRA on the season but turned it on after the break and posted 32.8 per game. He delivered 30+ PRA in four straight games before Sunday’s dud, and he reached that mark in two of four regular-season matchups.
I took a chance on Edey’s rebound line in Game 1 at 11.5. Given his increased minutes and recent rebound totals, it felt like a solid wager, but Edey was limited to just 20 minutes and finished with nine boards.
In a more competitive Game 2, expect Edey to play close to 30 minutes and record double-digit boards. His line is set at 10.5, but I took it at one board less for slightly shorter odds. He averaged 13.1 boards across his last 11 games and grabbed 10+ eight times.
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Grizzlies vs Thunder odds
Grizzlies vs Thunder live odds
Grizzlies vs Thunder opening odds
- Spread: Memphis +15 | Oklahoma City -15
- Moneyline: Memphis +750 | Oklahoma City -1200
- Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Grizzlies vs Thunder spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Thunder have won 10 straight games against the Grizzlies, going 9-1 ATS.
- The Grizzlies and Thunder have stayed Under the total in eight of their last 10 meetings.
Grizzlies vs Thunder trend
The Grizzlies lost nine games by at least 15 points this season, and four of those losses came at the hands of the Thunder. Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Thunder.
How to watch Grizzlies vs Thunder
| Location | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK |
| Date | Tuesday, 4-22-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
Grizzlies vs Thunder latest injuries
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