Grizzlies vs Lakers Picks and Odds

• The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers matchup on Friday, February 12th
• Anthony Davis (Achilles) is questionable for Los Angeles, while Alex Caruso (hand) has been upgraded to probable
• Get the latest odds, betting analysis and a pick below

The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers meet for the third time this season on February 12th. Los Angeles won the previous two matchups on January 3rd and 5th, but Memphis has played some great basketball since then and Ja Morant has returned from injury.

The Lakers, in contrast, have had some difficult nights and they could be without Anthony Davis again on Friday. Davis is listed as questionable on the injury report.

Justise Winslow and Jaren Jackson remain sidelined for the Grizz. De’Anthony Melton (shoulder) and Brandon Clarke (calf) are ruled out for Friday’s game. Memphis is 7.5-point underdogs even with Davis’ status unclear.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds

Odds taken on Feb 12 from FanDuel

Rim Protection

Ja Morant attacks the rim with ferocious frequency. The second-year guard ranks third among all point guards in percentage of shots at the basket, behind only Kira Lewis and Ben Simmons. An increase in free throw rate from .329 to .366 is not exactly drastic, but it demonstrates Morant’s ability to draw contact at the basket.

The Lakers have generally done a good job at not fouling. Frank Vogel’s team rank seventh in personal fouls per contest. Morant presents a serious matchup challenge for the Lakers, however, and particularly so with no Anthony Davis.

Dennis Schroder has played some of the best defense of his career this season, but it’s unrealistic to expect him to keep Morant away from the paint. Unlike last season with JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, the Lakers are very dependent on Davis as a rim protector. Marc Gasol remains a plus defender, but he’s not a rim protector and he has no chance if switched onto Morant.

The Lakers could try to wall off the paint against Morant. The Hornets tried that tactic in Memphis’ last game, though, and the result was a bucket load of open threes. The Grizz average just over 32 three-point attempts per contest. They got up 49 against Charlotte and shot almost 47% as a team. Walling off the paint might stop Morant, but Memphis has enough shooting to make you pay.

Unsettled Lakers

Although riding a six-game winning streak, the Lakers haven’t played their best basketball of late. Since LeBron James put in a gem to blowout the Nuggets, Vogel has seen his team make hard work of matchups with the Pistons and Thunder. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who started the season lights out from three, has been cold. The former Piston is four-for-17 from deep over his last seven games.

The decision to drop Markieff Morris and Wesley Matthews from the rotation made sense, but it has led to further tweaks as Davis and Alex Caruso have missed time through injury. The team has been unsettled of late.

Although by far the best defense in the league over this winning run, the offense has struggled. They are bottom 10 in offensive rating in their last six, and sit 26th in assist to turnover ratio. This Grizzlies team hustles on the defensive end – they rank second in opponent turnovers and will take advantage of any sloppiness from the reigning champions.

Grizz to Cover

Memphis owns a 6-4 record as the dog this season. The Lakers, who have been taken to overtime by the Pistons and Thunder recently, are 11-14 ATS as favorites.

The two games last month don’t tell us much about this matchup. Memphis fought hard without Morant, but they are not the same team. This Grizzlies team is made up of productive players, of players who defend hard and can hit shots. Taylor Jenkins is in the running for Coach of the Year.

Despite picking up wins, nothing about the Lakers’ recent performances suggests they can win this comfortably. Memphis might not win, but they will make LeBron James and co. work hard.

Pick: Memphis Grizzlies +7.5 (-110)