NBA Friday Betting Preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs

It’s déjà vu all over again as the Spurs and Grizzlies clash for the second time in three nights in the bookend of their home-and-home series. San Antonio came out on top at home in part one thanks to a vintage performance from LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a season-high 41 points on 17-of-24 shooting. The five-time All-Star has looked increasingly more comfortable since the return of Tony Parker, who had ten points and five assists in his second game back from injury. The pair have developed a strong bond in their two years in San Antonio, and pick-and-rolled the Grizzlies into submission during their limited time together on the court.

The Grizzlies were led by Tyreke Evans, who had 22 points and five assists in his first start of the season. Evans was starting in place of Mike Conley, who is still several weeks away from returning from a sore left heel and Achilles tendon. Memphis is 0-7 since he went on the shelf.

The game also marked a first of sorts for J.B. Bickerstaff, who was coaching his first game since being named the interim boss in the wake of David Fizdale’s firing. The Grizzlies didn’t fare much better under Bickerstaff, turning the ball over 17 times and allowing the Spurs to shoot 50.7-percent from the floor. Memphis will have to tighten up its defense if it has any prayer of stealing a win at home tonight.

Grizzlies vs Spurs Team Stats

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Head-to-Head Results

San Antonio and Memphis have only faced each other once in 2017-18, but the Spurs have owned the Grizzlies in the past, winning 66 of their 88 head-to-head match-ups. NBA bettors often dismiss historic results that go back this far, but they’re worth paying attention to when wagering on the Spurs, since the franchise has had so much roster continuity over the years. Many of the same guys who beat up on the Grizzlies back in 2010 are still with the team, and their appetite for bear meat is just as pronounced now as it was seven years ago.

Notable Injuries and Absences

SPURS: Joffrey Lauvergne, Kawhi Leonard

Center Joffrey Lauvergne has been sidelined since October 23rd with a sprained right ankle. He has been practicing with the team and is expected to return to game action soon. Kawhi Leonard continues to make strides in his rehab, and should return from a right quadriceps injury in another two-to-three weeks.

GRIZZLIES: Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons, Wayne Selden Jr.

Things are considerably less sunny in Memphis, where Chandler Parsons is unavailable after experiencing tightness in his surgically-repaired right knee. Mike Conley has also been scratched from the line-up as he rests his left Achilles. Team officials are optimistic he’ll suit up again in another two-to-three weeks. Shooting guard Wayne Selden Jr. will miss another two weeks as he nurses a sore right quad.

Betting the Moneyline

BEST SPURS MONEYLINE: -170

BEST GRIZZLIES MONEYLINE: +165

SPURS STRAIGHT-UP TRENDS

• San Antonio is 4-5 SU on the road this season
• San Antonio is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games
• San Antonio is 7-3 SU against the Western Conference
• San Antonio is 9-4 SU after a win this season
• San Antonio is 7-3 SU on one day of rest this season

GRIZZLIES STRAIGHT-UP TRENDS

• Memphis is 4-7 SU at home this season
• Memphis is 1-9 SU in their last 10 games
• Memphis is 7-8 SU against the Western Conference
• Memphis is 3-9 SU after a loss this season
• Memphis is 3-9 SU on one day of rest

EXPERT MONEYLINE ADVICE: SPURS (-170)

There’s no reason to think that the Spurs’ dominance over the Grizzlies will suddenly end this evening. Even without Leonard, San Antonio is too good, too deep, and too unified to lose to a directionless and undermanned team like Memphis. In a world full of uncertainty, the Spurs are the closest thing you’ll find to a sure thing.

Betting Against the Spread

BEST SPURS SPREAD: -4.5 (-111)

BEST GRIZZLIES SPREAD: +4.5 (-109)

SPURS AGAINST THE SPREAD TRENDS

• San Antonio is 10-10-1 ATS this season
• San Antonio is 2-7-0 ATS on the road this season
• San Antonio is 8-6-1 as a favorite this season
• San Antonio covers ATS 50 percent of the time

GRIZZLIES AGAINST THE SPREAD TRENDS

• Memphis is 6-13-1 ATS this season
• Memphis is 3-8-0 ATS at home this season
• Memphis is 4-5-1 as a favorite this season
• Memphis covers ATS 31.6 percent of the time

EXPERT AGAINST-THE-SPREAD ADVICE: SPURS (-4.5)

The Spurs and Grizzlies are going in very different directions. San Antonio has won five of its past six games, is third in the West, and is guided by a coach who has been with the team since 1996. Memphis, meanwhile, has lost nine consecutive games, is well outside the playoff picture, and is led by a guy who’s coached a grand total of 72 games in his NBA career. It’s not exactly the varsity playing the junior varsity, but it’s close. The Spurs should cover as 4.5-point road favorites.

Game Total Betting

BEST OVER ODDS: 191.5 (-110)

BEST UNDER ODDS: 192 (-110)

SPURS TOTALS TRENDS

• San Antonio is 9-12 O/U this season

GRIZZLIES TOTALS TRENDS

• Memphis is 6-13-1 O/U this season

EXPERT TOTALS ADVICE: Over (-110)

San Antonio and Memphis scored 199 points in their previous game, failing to go over the projected point total. It’s likely that will change tonight as both teams have had a day of rest and Tony Parker has had a chance to shake off the rust following his prolonged absence from the team. We’re especially bullish on the Spurs’ ability to run up the score given that they’ve been averaging 108.3 points in their last three games, and shot 50.7-percent from the field and 40-percent from the arc in their previous game against the Grizzlies.

Additional SU Picks

Memphis vs San Antonio is just one of eight games on tap on Friday night. Here are our other seven straight up picks.