Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies Betting Preview
The top two teams in the Western Conference square off Saturday night as the Denver Nuggets (42-18) take on the Memphis Grizzlies (35-23). The Grizzlies will host this one at the FedExForum, with tipoff scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.
The Grizzlies are slight favorites playing at home. They are -130 to win, while the Nuggets’ moneyline sits at +110. The spread features Denver as two-point underdogs (-110), and the over/under for total points is 233.5.
Nuggets Look To Keep Winning Streak Alive
The Denver Nuggets, first in the West, currently enjoy a six-game lead over the Grizzlies in the conference. They also come in having won 8 of their last 10 and four in a row. Despite the success, they are just 15-14 on the road and will look to pick up another road victory as they travel to Memphis.
Denver currently ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring, averaging 1171.1 points per game. They struggle a bit more on the road as they average just 112.5 points away from home.
Leading the Nuggets is MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic (-240). In 52 games, he is averaging 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.
Other contributors include Jamaal Murray (20.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists), Aaron Gordon (17.3 points, 6.9 rebounds), and Michael Porter Jr (17 points, 5.4 rebounds). It is worth noting that Gordon is questionable for this one with a rib injury.
Memphis Tries To Stay Dominant At FedExForum
Despite a 35-23 record, Memphis has not played well at all venues. They are just 11-18 on the road this season and have lost 6 of their last 10. Luckily for Grizzlies’ fans, they are playing at home, where they are 24-5 this season.
The Grizzlies currently rank ninth in scoring, averaging 115.9 points per game (118.5 at home). Ja Morant leads the way averaging 27.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
Desmond Bane (21.6 points, five rebounds, 4.1 assists), Jaren Jackson Jr (17 points, 6.7 rebounds), and Dillon Brooks (14.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists) also have had great years.
On the defensive side, Memphis ranks eighth in the league, allowing opponents an average of 112.2 points per game (108.2 at home).
Take Denver And The Points
Looking at the trends, Denver is 5-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last six games. In their last nine against Memphis, though, they are just 3-6 against the spread.
For Memphis, they are 4-10 in their last 14 games, although they are 17-3 in their last 20 home games. In their last eight, they are just 2-6 against the spread.
The Nuggets won the first matchup between these two teams 105-91 back on December 20 at home. In that win, Jokic had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. In the loss, Ja Morant had 35 points and 10 assists.
The availability of Aaron Gordon could be a big factor in this one. In the first matchup, he led the Nuggets’ scorers with 24 points. While the Grizzlies are fantastic at home, if Gordon is able to play, there is a lot of value in taking Denver and the points.
Again, keep an eye on the active list, but heavily consider taking Denver at +2 (-110).