San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies 12/23/20: NBA Basketball free preview, analysis, prediction, odds and pick against the spread.
2020-12-23 20:00:00 EDT
The Memphis Grizzlies open their season with a meeting against the San Antonio Spurs at the FedExForum on Wednesday night.
The San Antonio Spurs will be eager to return to playoff contention after missing out on a 23rd consecutive playoff appearance last season. The Spurs re-signed, Derrick White Drew Eubanks and Jakob Poeltl while drafting Devin Vassell with the 11th pick in the NBA draft. Assuming players remain healthy, the Spurs should be able to improve on last season where they won just 32 games and missed out on the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies will be keen to take the next step as a team after losing six of their eight games in the bubble to naritemly miss out on the playoffs. The Grizzlies added to their young talent by drafting Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman Sr. but they will have to start their season without the injured Jaren Jackson Jr. Brandon Clarke is due for increased minutes after being named first-team on the All-Rookie team last season while Ja Morant will look to improve on last season’s averages of 17.8 points and 7.3 assists per game.
Looking at the betting trends, the Spurs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games playing on three or more days rest, 3-10 ATS in their last 13 Wednesday games and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a loss. The Grizzlies are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games playing on three or more days rest, 16-7 ATS in their last 23 home games and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall.
Head to head, the over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Memphis.
The Spurs had to deal with a litany of injuries last season which really hurt them as they finished with just 34 wins on the season. The same could be said for the Grizzlies who were rolling late in the season before Jackson Jr. fell to injury. The Grizzlies could suffer a slow start to the season as they won’t be at full strength, but they are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 home games. This should be a close contest, but I’m sticking with the Spurs to pull off the minor upset as road underdogs here.
