The New Orleans Pelicans (28-38) and the Memphis Grizzlies (32-35) are two of the Western Conference teams still fighting for a spot in the 2019-20 NBA playoffs. Memphis is two games ahead of San Antonio in the eighth slot, but the Grizzlies now have a three-game losing streak (dating back into March), allowing the Dallas Mavericks to back into the seventh seed despite folding in both of their first two “bubble” games. New Orleans has also lost two in a row, and they are 3 ½ games behind Memphis. Which team will get their first win since the restart? Don’t miss our sports betting preview of this tussle between two desperate teams fighting for their postseason lives, along with their NBA odds.
NBA Betting – Memphis Grizzlies vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds & Prediction (August 3)
- When: Monday, August 3, 2020, 6:30 pm ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
- Grizzlies vs Pelicans Live: ESPN
- Radio: WMFS 680 AM Memphis / ESPN 100.3 FM New Orleans
- Live Stream: fuboTV
- Total: Memphis -4.5 / NBA odds.
Why should you bet on Memphis?
Memphis pushed Portland to overtime on Friday before losing by five, and then they lost to San Antonio by two on Sunday — and now they turn around and play again. Against the Spurs, the Grizzlies fell behind early as the Spurs led by one after the first quarter, and they could never catch up. They were down five at halftime and then down nine at the end of the third. Memphis put up 30 points in the fourth, but the Spurs held on for a 108-106 win.
Ja Morant continued to make his Rookie of the Year case against the Spurs, leading the Grizzlies with 25 points and just missing a triple-double, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out nine assists. Jaren Jackson Jr also broke the 20-point barrier, scoring 21 and pulling down three boards. Dillon Brooks (16), Grayson Allen (15) and Jonas Valanciunas (13) also hit double figures in points, and Valanciunas led the team in rebounds with 11. If you like the Grizzlies, you think that their greater depth on offense will help them hold off a Pelicans team that is still trying to figure out how to work Zion into the scheme.
Why should you put your money on the Pelicans?
New Orleans had a nailbiter against Utah in the “bubble” opener on Thursday night, coming up just short. They took a 23-point beating from the Clippers on Saturday. Los Angeles got off to a fast start, putting up 37 points in the first quarter and 40 more in the second, going into halftime up 77-45. The Clippers kept the defense on in the third quarter, holding the Pelicans to 21 points, and then it was garbage time, as the fourth quarter saw the Pelicans close the gap by 14 points but still lose big.
Zion Williamson was not as effective against the Clippers as he had been against the Jazz, putting up just seven points and five rebounds. Reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 15 points, and the other Pelicans in double figures with points were Brandon Ingram (14), Derrick Favors (12), Frank Jackson (11) and J.J. Redick (11). Favors led the team with nine rebounds, followed by Jaxson Hayes with eight. Jackson led the team in assists with six. The Pelicans need to reassert themselves against the Grizzlies if they want to have any sort of shot at the playoffs now.
Final Score, Prediction & General Info
I believe that Zion will be an elite player in the NBA for years to come. However, the Pelicans are not contenders yet, even with him in the lineup. The Grizzlies have not won in the “bubble” yet, but they’ve been right there twice. I see Memphis taking advantage of New Orleans in a 110-103 win.
