Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions

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Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies Odds

Trail Blazers Odds +5.5
Grizzlies Odds -5.5
Over/Under 239
Date Wed, Feb. 1
Time 7:00 p.m.
TV BSSE

On Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies will meet at the FedExForum. Entering play, Portland (24-26) is one game behind the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans for the final play-in position in the Western Conference. Memphis (32-18) trails the Denver Nuggets for the 1-seed by 2.5 games in the standings. Tonight, oddsmakers are expecting a Memphis victory, pricing the Grizzlies as 5.5-point home favorites on the spread.

Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard lights out in January

In 15 games played during the month of January, Damian Lillard averaged 34.5 points, trailing only Joel Embiid in that span. Lillard shot an efficient 49.7% from the field, adding 3.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game as well. Still, Portland only managed to win six of those 15 games with Lillard in uniform.

Where Portland is struggling

The Trail Blazers two main deficiencies, which keep them from winning games, continue to be defense and rebounding. In January, Portland ranked 26th out of 30 teams in defensive efficiency, allowing 118.3 points per 100 possessions. They ranked 20th in rebound percentage, consistently allowing second-chance opportunities which is related to an inability to get stops on a regular basis.

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Memphis Grizzlies

Adams OUT

This evening, Steven Adams will miss his fifth consecutive game. From December 29 to January 22, with Adams in the lineup, Memphis was 10-2 overall and led the NBA in rebounding percentage as a team. Since he last played on January 22, the Grizzlies are 1-3 overall and rank 26th in rebounding percentage.

Per Cleaning the Glass, Memphis ranks in the 92nd percentile in offensive efficiency and the 90th percentile in defensive efficiency this year with Adams on the floor, compared to the 29th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 86th percentile in defensive efficiency when he is on the sidelines. His absence is a significant obstacle for this team ato overcome.

Bane listed as questionable

Further complicating things for Memphis tonight is the fact that “(player-popup #desmond-bane)Desmond Bane”:/players/desmond-bane-2439095’s status is uncertain ahead of tip-off. Bane has missed each of the Grizzlies’ last two games due to right knee soreness.

Per CourtIQ, when both Adams and Bane are off of the floor at the same time, Jaren Jackson Jr. (+4.2%) sees the largest increase in usage of any player on the roster. In Jackson Jr.’s most recent game, he scored 28 points, collected eight rebounds, and blocked five shots in a 112-100 win for Memphis. Expect him to be a centerpiece for this group on both ends of the floor once again if Bane is ruled out.

Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies – Picks & Predictions

In four games since Steven Adams last played, Memphis ranks 27th out of 30 teams in offensive efficiency, while simultaneously ranking worse than league average in defensive efficiency. The Trail Blazers have not proven themselves capable of consistently winning on the road, but they have an opportunity to deliver an upset on Wednesday evening if they can win the rebounding battle against a Memphis team that has struggled on the glass of late. At minimum, Portland should be able to keep this contest close enough to cover the spread. Buy a point for minimal juice at MGM to create slightly more cushion here.

PICK: Trail Blazers +6.5 (-125, MGM)

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

nickgalaida
Nick Galaida (nickgalaida)

A failed high school pitcher, Nick Galaida discovered that he has a higher aptitude for analyzing and writing about sports than he does playing them. To his friends, he is better known as “The Commish.” When he’s not organizing a fantasy league, placing a bet, or writing an article, he’s probably nose-deep in a book—further illustrating the point that his niche in this world is as a nerd rather than an athlete. Follow Nick on Twitter – @CommishFilmRoom