Memphis Grizzlies (1-0) vs. Houston Rockets (0-1)
October 21, 2022 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Rockets +5; Over/Under: +229.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Rockets play host to the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center on Friday night.
The Memphis Grizzlies will have their eyes on staying undefeated after outlasting the Knicks in a thrilling 115-112 overtime win on Wednesday. Ja Morant hit the ground running and led the way with 34 points and nine assists, Santi Aldama added 18 points with 11 rebounds while Desmond Bane chipped in with 16 points and six assists on six of 22 shooting. As a team, the Grizzlies shot just 38 percent from the field and 17 of 50 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 36 points in the second quarter to build a 19-point lead, but they took their foot off the gas and had to rely on Morant to carry them over the line after the Knicks rallied to force overtime.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets will be looking to bounce back and claim their first win after getting stopped by the Hawks in a 117-107 road loss on Wednesday. Kevin Porter Jr. led the team with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Jabari Smith Jr. added 17 points while Jalen Green chipped in with 16 points on seven of 20 shooting. As a team, the Rockets shot just 42 percent from the field and nine of 35 from the 3-point line which was good enough to hang in the contest until the fourth quarter where the Hawks used a pivotal 9-2 run to pull away in the end.
Looking at the betting trends, the Grizzlies are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games against a team with a losing record and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games against a team below .400. The Rockets are 25-55 ATS in their last 80 home games and 0-5 ATS in their last five games against a team above .600.
Head to head, the under is 30-14 in the last 44 meetings in Houston.
The Grizzlies are still shorthanded as they are without Jaren Jackson Jr and Ziaire Williams while Dillon Brooks is listed as questionable. The Rockets are just about at full strength except for Jae’Sean Tate who is out with an ankle injury. The Rockets will take plenty of confidence from their loss to the Hawks as they actually put up a pretty good fight right till the end, but the Grizzlies are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games against a team below .400 and they are just too tempting at the short line with Morant already in mid-season form.
