Grizzlies vs. Lakers Best Bets for Friday Night: Will L.A. Have Their King for Memphis? (Archive)
NBA Pick: Grizzlies -7.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
First place in the Western Conference could change hands on Friday night as the Memphis Grizzlies take their record-setting hot streak to Los Angeles to face a Lakers team that is still trying to find its footing this season.
Read on for our NBA breakdown, including the latest NBA odds and our free expert NBA betting picks.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, January 20, 2023 – 10:00 PM EST at Crypto.com Arena
The Grizzlies have not lost since Dec. 27 and matched a franchise record with 11 straight wins. They could break the mark with a win over the Lakers on Friday. The streak has moved Memphis to within half a game of the first-place Denver Nuggets at 31-13. Denver plays Indiana on Friday in a game that tips an hour earlier, so the Grizz could leapfrog the Nuggets to take over the conference lead by the end of the night.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are still on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. Los Angeles is 20-25. They got hot at the start of the new year, winning five in a row and getting to within two games of .500, the closest they’ve been to breaking even since the second game of the season. They’ve gone 1-4 since, however, and are now two and a half games out of the final playoff spot and would need to pass three teams to get in.
Shutdown Grizzlies
Memphis has put together its winning streak thanks to one of the most suffocating defenses in the league. Over the last 11 games, Memphis has a net rating over 12 and a defensive rating of 108.5, both of which are best in the NBA over that span.
For the season, the Grizzlies lead the Western Conference in point differential and are second only to Boston in the NBA. They lead the league with a 109.1 defensive rating and are second in the West in opponents’ points allowed for the year. Memphis is second in the NBA in defensive rebounding and second in blocked shots.
Memphis has four players who are among the best defenders in the league this year. Three are in the top 10 in individual defensive rating this season, led by Brandon Clarke at 105.6, tied for third overall. Dillon Brooks is right behind him, and John Konchar is also in the top 10.
Big man Steven Adams joins the group in the top 10 for net rating. Adams hit the boards for a game-winning tip-in on Wednesday to run the win streak to 11, and Brooks had a blocked shot at the buzzer to preserve the victory.
And the team’s best candidate for Defensive Player of the Year might not even be included in those rankings. That would be Jaren Jackson Jr., who is posting the highest blocked shot rate in the NBA since 2012. Memphis allows 8.6 fewer points per 100 possessions when Jackson is in the game than when he’s not.
King on the Shelf?
The Lakers have battled injury all season and are currently without Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker IV, and Austin Reaves, who have all been out since at least early January. They may be joined by an even bigger contributor on Friday.
LeBron James was included on the team’s injury report for the Memphis game. He is battling a sore ankle that has been a problem all season long. The ankle, along with other physical problems for the 38-year-old, has caused him to miss 10 games this year, and the Lakers have gone 4-6 without him.
Of course, James has been listed as questionable for the last few games and has ended up playing, so it may be a false alarm. He’ll likely do everything he can to take the floor in a marquee game against a promising rising star in the league in Ja Morant.
Plus, the team has leaned on James even more than usual recently. He’s averaged 34.8 ppg on 50 percent shooting with 10 rebounds and 9.3 assists over the last four games. Since turning 38 seven games ago, he’s averaged 35 ppg with nine boards and nine assists.
The Picks
Even with LeBron, the Lakers would be hard-pressed to cover against the red-hot Grizzlies. With his status less than 100 percent, Memphis is definitely the wise pick here.
We also like the combination of a balky ankle and the Memphis defense to keep James in check for the game - relatively speaking.
For Memphis residents looking to bet on this game, you can check out our top Tennessee betting sites. However, if you are a Lakers fan who thinks Los Angeles will do better tonight, you can place your bets at any of the top California betting sites.
NBA Pick: Grizzlies -7.5 (-110) at BetOnline
NBA Prop Pick: LeBron James Under 33.5 Points (-118) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.