The Memphis Grizzlies host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, when they’ll be looking to stay hot while Ja Morant recovers from COVID-19 and an ankle injury. The Grizzlies are coming off of a loss to the Dallas Mavericks but have still won five of their last six.
Will Los Angeles come away with a win over a Memphis team that plays the right way on both ends of the floor? Continue reading our NBA picks and predictions for Lakers vs. Grizzlies.
Lakers vs Grizzlies odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Grizzlies have gone from 3.5-point underdogs to 4-point underdogs since this thing opened, and the Lakers are taking a lot of the tickets on this game. And despite most bettors backing the Under, the total has gone from 222.5 to 223.5 or 224.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Lakers vs Grizzlies predictions
Predictions made on 12/9/2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Lakers vs Grizzlies game info
• Location: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021
• Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: BSSE-MEM, SPECSN
Lakers vs Grizzlies betting preview
Injuries
Lakers: Kendrick Nunn G (Out), Trevor Ariza F (Out).
Grizzlies: Ja Morant G (Out), Ziaire Williams F (Out), Kyle Anderson F (Doubtful), Brandon Clarke F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS in their last six games. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Grizzlies.
Lakers vs Grizzlies picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Lakers are coming off one of their best performances of the season, as they earned a 117-102 win as 4-point favorites against the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles played very well on the defensive end in that game, which is where most of the team’s struggles have come this season. This Grizzlies team does, however, represent a much more difficult challenge for the Lakers.
Memphis is coming off a rough loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but the team had won five in a row before that one. The Grizzlies have held four of their last six opponents to less than 40% shooting from the floor, and they’ll now look to stifle a Lakers offense that occasionally struggles to find any sort of efficiency. Also, while the team is missing Morant right now, the Grizzlies are moving the basketball and taking good shots. They might not have a true star out there, but they should find some success against a Lakers defense that has been a complete disaster this season.
One player that has really stepped it up for the Grizzlies is Desmond Bane. Over the last six games, Bane is averaging 17.8 points per game for Memphis. He should be a huge factor in this meeting with Los Angeles, as the team frequently loses shooters on the defensive end. Jaren Jackson Jr. should also make a mark on this game. He’s playing like a borderline All-Star this year, and he just had 26 points last night. Jackson will be counted on to hold his own in a matchup with Davis.
Prediction: Grizzlies +4 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Over is 6-2-1 in the Lakers’ last six games and the team has allowed 114.2 points per game over that stretch. This Los Angeles team just isn’t defending at a high level right now, and that’s not likely to change in the near future. The Lakers are full of one-way players and even the ones that do defend don’t exactly fit together. Considering how good of an offensive coach Taylor Jenkins is, his team should be able to put up a big number against Los Angeles tonight. The Lakers will also get theirs on the offensive end, too.
It’s also worth noting that the Over is 11-4 when Memphis is avenging a loss of three points or less against an opponent since Jenkins took over the team. He’s very good at making adjustments, so he’ll have his offense ready to roll in this game.
Prediction: Over 223.5 (-110)
Best bet
The Grizzlies have covered in each of their last four home games against the Lakers, and they should extend that streak to five tonight. Since Frank Vogel became the Lakers’ head coach, the team is just 9-21 ATS when coming off a home win of 10 points or more. Meanwhile, Memphis is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games following an ATS loss.
Overall, it’s important to overlook the names on each of these rosters when preparing for this game. The Lakers have a lot more talent than the Grizzlies, but they don’t have players that fit together very well. The Grizzlies, even without Morant, are capable of hanging around — and potentially winning outright —because they play the right way.
Pick: Grizzlies +4 (-110)
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