NBA: Washington Wizards vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview, Odds, Prediction

The first game following the All-Star break occurs in Memphis, where the Grizzlies host the Washington Wizards. Both sides are outside the playoff zone, with the note that the Wizards raised their level of play in the last few weeks. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were trying to find the proper rhythm but often provided mixed results. This young team had several big-time injuries that undoubtedly decreased their record and productivity this season.

Preview

Washington Wizards (14-20, +115) come into this match with a win against the Clippers that left them in a solid mood before the pause. Overall, the Wizards are 7-3 in the past 10 matches, with the note that one of those three losses came against the Grizzlies in DC.

The Wizards blossomed during their tour through the West, once they posted wins against the Rockets, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, and the Lakers, before losing to Clippers, whom they afterward beat and avenged their failure.

Bradley Beal is in the middle of attention, with the NBA’s leading scorer dropping 32.7 points per match during this campaign. He had a very good performance at the All-Star game, posting a team-high for Team Durant with 26 buckets. Russell Westbrook is also in the mix, with the former MVP on the verge of getting a triple-double average. At the moment, Brody has 20.3 points, 9.8 dimes, and 9.7 boards in each contest.

Memphis Grizzlies (16-16, -115) defeated Houston and Washington on the road before losing at home to the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-111, even though having a solid chance of beating Giannis and his crew.

Ja Morant was very inspired in the previous two clashes, dropping 35 points in each of them, with the sophomore guard averaging 19.8 buckets, with 7.7 assists per night. His biggest problems are three-point shots, with Morant having 23.3% of success in this area which is awful for a player of his caliber.

Jonas Valanciunas’ contribution needs to be mentioned, with the Lithuanian center posting a double-double average, 15.6 points, and 11.3 rebounds in 27.1 minutes on the court. What is especially important is that he takes a more active role in the offense and becomes an essential part of Memphis’ attacking gameplan. Valanciunas isn’t a guy who picks up leftovers anymore but has a solid share of the team’s ISO situations.

Head to Head Games

Washington hosted the Grizzles on March 2, and lost that match, 125-111. Morant had 35 points with 10 assists, shooting 11-for-18 from the floor and 11-for-14 from the foul line. Valanciunas had 11 points and 16 boards while Dillon Brooks scored 20, the same as DeAnthony Melton. Both Beal and Westbook had 23 for the hosts, with the note that Russ added 15 assists as well.

Prediction

The bookies have set the total points line at 236.5, which is too much from our point of view. Wizards do play efficient matches and have no desire to make some effort on the defensive side. On the other side, Memphis’ games bring around 213 points, and they are much tougher at home than on the road when it comes to playing defense. This is the first match following a break, and they are bound to have a higher sense of urgency. Because of this, we predict under.