The Memphis Grizzlies have a rare shot at beating the Golden State Warriors twice this season. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry will look to prove he can carry the Warriors to a win against quality team despite his team missing key weapons.
Catch this game live on Friday, December 24, at 11 AM, Manila time.
Away: Memphis Grizzlies (19-13/8-5 on the road)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Ja Morant
- SG: Desmond Bane
- SF: Dillon Brooks
- PF: Jaren Jackson Jr
- C: Steven Adams
The Grizzlies will have their best player on the floor when they take on Golden State this Friday. That’s Ja Morant, who will be appearing in just his second game back from a lengthy absence due to a knee injury that cost him a dozen games. In his first game back, Morant put up 12 points with six rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes in a 102-99 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morant and the Grizzlies can easily forget about that loss if they victimize the Warriors – again.
It could be remembered that Memphis defeated the Warriors on the road late last October, 104-101, with Morant unloading 30 points on 11/22 shooting from the field. Morant aside, the Grizzlies’ defense made life hard for the Warriors, who turned the ball over a total of 22 times. Forcing opponents to cough the ball has been an unheralded aspect of the Grizzlies’ game. In fact, Memphis, which is 17-10-0 ATS in non-division games this season, is sixth in the NBA with a 13.9 defensive turnover rate.
Home: Golden State Warriors (25-6/15-2 at home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Gary Payton II
- SF: Otto Porter Jr.
- PF: Draymond Green
- C: Kevon Looney
The Warriors easily recovered from their 119-100 road loss to the Toronto Raptors last Sunday, as they demolished the Sacramento Kings right after at home on Tuesday to the tune of a 113-98 score. The loss to the Raps were sort of a giveaway on the part of Golden State, which rested Stephen Curry and did not have Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Jordan Poole, Otto Porter, and Andrew Wiggings due to health issues. Curry and Green returned to action in the Sacramento game, so they should be expected to meet the Grizzlies this Friday.
However, Poole and the rest are either questionable or have already been ruled out. But so long as the Warriors have Curry together with Green, the Warriors can keep up with the Grizzlies. In the first meeting with Memphis, Curry went off for 36 points. Green only had four points but finished with 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and five blocks in 38 minutes. The Warriors are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games versus a team with a winning record.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: Bettor confidence could be low on the Grizzlies after Memphis lost to a lowly OKC team. I think it’s time to fade the Warriors and jump on Grizzlies’ spread (+6.5).
Over/Under: The Warriors will be without some of their big guns. Looking to take the Under (217.0) here.
