It’s a matchup of NBA MVP candidates when Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies visit Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Monday, January 31, 2022 – 07:00 PM EST at Wells Fargo Center
By far the marquee matchup on the NBA’s eight-game schedule on the final night of January is Memphis at Philadelphia, featuring MVP candidates Ja Morant of the Grizzlies and Joel Embiid of the 76ers – arguably the two most different stars in the league but equally dominant.
Memphis tries for the season sweep as it pummeled visiting Philadelphia 126-91 on Dec. 13, but I take little from that because neither Morant nor Embiid played. When Embiid doesn’t play, the Sixers’ defense craters, and the Grizzlies shot 52.8% that night. Dillon Brooks had 23 points (more on him below) and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 22. Tyrese Maxey led Philly with 23 points but no one else had more than 13. Seth Curry was also out for the Sixers.
The Grizzlies have won seven of the past 10 in the series but are 4-5-1 against the spread in those at BMR’s top-rated books.
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Memphis point guard Ja Morant (+1200 to win MVP) was named an All-Star starter for the first time in his young career (All-Star for the first time overall) last week and it was very well deserved; while Morant was named a Western Conference starter, keep in mind that captains still pick the teams for next month’s game. LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the captains, and they will rotate picking the 10 chosen starters from each conference first.
The Grizzlies are on a three-game winning streak following a 115-95 home defeat of Washington on Saturday. Morant had 34 points, his sixth straight game with at least 30. I’d have to think he’s named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. Steven Adams had his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Forward Kyle Anderson returned after missing the past five games in protocols and had 4 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Guard Ziaire Williams was out with a knee injury but isn’t on the injury report for Monday. Backup point guard Tyus Jones has missed the past six games in protocols but is out of those and could return for this one.
The team remains without second-leading scorer Dillon Brooks (18.4 ppg) due to a badly sprained ankle. He’s still probably a couple of weeks away.
Memphis is 12-3 in January after going 12-4 in December. It’s the first time in franchise history it has won at least 12 games in consecutive calendar months. The Grizz are 7-3 ATS on NBA picks in their past 10 as road underdogs.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid was named an Eastern Conference All-Star starter, also very well deserved. Less than two weeks after being a 50-1 long shot to win NBA MVP, Embiid is now the +220 favorite at BMR’s top-rated books. He might have won MVP last season before a knee injury sidelined him for 10 games.
The Sixers won their fourth game in a row Saturday, 103-101 over the Kings, rallying from a 17-point hole. Philly is a stellar 8-0 this season in games decided by five points or fewer. It is 9-0 in games in which it shoots at least 50% from the floor and 40% from deep.
Embiid had 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. It was his eighth game in January with at least 30 points and 10 boards. Tobias Harris had 16 points and 8 rebounds. Harris is one of three players this month averaging at least 19 points and 5 rebounds while shooting at least 50% from the floor and 40% from deep.
Seth Curry returned from a four-game injury absence and had 8 points and 5 assists. He’s averaging a career-high 15.6 points. Backup point guard Shake Milton remains out with a back injury. Furkan Korkmaz is questionable with a sore left knee. He averages 9.0 points in about 24.4 minutes per game.
The Sixers are 5-5 ATS on the NBA odds in their past 10 at home. Simulations I have run essentially have this game as even so we’ll take the points.
NBA Pick: Grizzlies +3.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*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.