The Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets do battle at the Toyota Center on Sunday night. Here’s a Rockets vs. Grizzlies Prediction. This article will include a Rockets vs. Grizzlies Pick.
Memphis Grizzlies Betting Preview
The Memphis Grizzlies have been in a terrible slump as they’ve lost 20 of their last 22 games overall and they will be looking to arrest a seven-game slide after getting trounced by the Jazz in a 147-101 road defeat on Friday. Dariq Whitehead led the team with 21 points on eight of 18 shooting; Toby Okani added 20 points; Adama Bal scored 18 points, while Jahmai Mashack chipped in with a triple-double of 13 points with 15 rebounds and 14 assists. As a team, the Grizzlies shot 38 percent from the field and 11 of 52 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start and got outscored by 41-22 in the second quarter to trail by 22 points at halftime and things only got worse in the second half, where they trailed by as many as 55 points at one stage.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been on fire as they were riding a nine-game win streak before they got stopped in their tracks by the Timberwolves in a 136-132 home defeat on Friday. Amen Thompson led the team with 41 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on 17 of 22 shooting; Kevin Durant added 33 points with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Alperen Şengün chipped in with 22 points and eight assists. As a team, the Rockets shot 61 percent from the field and a miserly four of 19 from the 3-point line as they hit the ground running with 73 points in the first half to lead by as many as 10 points before they started to fade away in the fourth quarter, where they couldn’t overcome a 10-point deficit.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Rockets have won each of their last 14 home games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Grizzlies have lost each of their last 10 road games.
- The Grizzlies have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games following a road loss.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last four home games against Southwest Division opponents after losing as favorites.
Why the Memphis Grizzlies will win
- The Grizzlies have won four of their last five games against the Rockets following a road loss.
- The Rockets have lost three of their last four home games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine Sunday home games.
- The Grizzlies have covered the spread in each of their last five road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Rockets’ last seven home games against Southwest Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Five of the Grizzlies’ last six games against Southwest Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (47.9).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (15.0).
- Twenty-five different Grizzlies players have scored 15+ points in a game this season—the most in the league.
- The Grizzlies are one of only two teams to lose 12+ games when leading after Q3 this season.
Rockets vs Grizzlies Prediction
The Grizzlies are still missing a long list of players due to injury and they could be losing some more with Adama Bal and Walter Clayton Jr. both listed as game-time decisions, while the Rockets have decided to rest Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. It’s tempting to take the Grizzlies with the points, given that the Rockets are going to be resting some players, but the Grizzlies just looked flat-out terrible in their blowout loss to the lowly Jazz. You never know what you’re going to get at the end of the regular season, but I will stick with the more reliable Rockets at home in this spot.