We have a possible preview of a first-round playoff matchup in the NBA’s Western Conference when the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Lakers currently sit atop the conference with a 41-12 record, riding a three-game winning streak and having won seven games out of their last ten. The Grizzlies sit in the eighth slot in the standings, with a 28-27 record. They have also won seven out of ten, though, climbing past San Antonio and Portland to sit in the final playoff position. Memphis has gotten a great rookie campaign out of Ja Morant, and their team is quick on both ends of the floor. Can the Grizzlies pull off the road upset? Or will LeBron and AD take care of business? Don’t miss our sports betting preview of this Western Conference matchup. Let’s see how the NBA odds will be for the Grizzlies vs Lakers.
Grizzlies vs Lakers 2020 NBA Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Friday, February 21, 2020, 10:30 pm ET
- Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
- TV: FSSE / SPEC
- Radio: ESPN 680 AM Memphis / ESPNLA 710 AM Los Angeles
- Live Stream: FOX Sports GO
- NBA Odds: Los Angeles -11
Why should you bet on Memphis?
The Grizzlies come in with three wins over their last five contests. They beat the Mavericks in Dallas before losing in Philadelphia. Then they beat Washington on the road before coming home to beat Portland; they started a road swing out west with a 129-125 loss in Sacramento, as Harrison Barnes torched the Memphis defense with seven three-pointers.
In that loss, De’Anthony Melton led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and Ja Morant added 19. Memphis was down 15 early in the fourth quarter, but they closed the gap to one point with 7.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. However, they could not get any closer, and some late free throws by the Kings produced the final margin. If the Grizzlies’ defense had kicked in before the fourth quarter, they would have had a much better chance of winning. They won’t be able to wait that long to play stout defense against the Lakers if they want to have a shot at beating them in Staples Center.
Why should you put your money on Los Angeles?
The Lakers have a three-game winning streak going, starting with a five-point win in Golden State over the Warriors. They came home to beat the Suns by 25 and then went to Denver, where they beat a tough Nuggets team in overtime by four on February 12, their last game before the All-Star break.
In that victory, LeBron James notched his twelfth triple-double of the season, tied for the league lead with Dallas’ Luka Doncic. James put up 32 points, 14 assists and a dozen rebounds. This came against a Denver team that had been the hottest club in the NBA, with six wins out of their last seven, including tough wins in Milwaukee and at Utah. Anthony Davis had 33 points, including seven in overtime. Dwight Howard chipped in 14, as the Lakers moved to 23-5 on the road, the best mark in the league. The Lakers had a chance to win the game in regulation, but James missed a 15-foot fadeaway at the buzzer. In overtime, the Nuggets went cold in the last three minutes of extra time. If you like the Lakers, you see them keeping that same focus and momentum against another possible playoff foe.
Grizzlies vs Lakers Final Score Prediction
Memphis is playing better basketball as Morant learns the differences between the college and the pro games, and the rest of the squad is elevating as a result. However, putting LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the same roster has given the Lakers an edge that few in the West can match. There have been some games when the Lakers have lost focus, but with both of their top stars healthy, it is hard to bet against the Lakers at home. But can the Lakers cover that spread? The last time the Lakers beat a team in a playoff slot in the West by more than 11 points came in Dallas three weeks ago. Can they pull off the same against Memphis at home? I’m not sure the Lakers cover here. Give me a Laker win but a Grizzlies cover, with a final of Los Angeles 120, Memphis 111.
