Golden State vs Memphis | NBA Odds & Best Bet For Game 5

The Golden State Warriors can finish off the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night, and the Warriors are road favorites on the NBA odds because Memphis is likely to be without star Ja Morant again.

How to Bet Warriors at Grizzlies NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 9:30 PM ET
Where: FedExForum
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Warriors -2.5 (total 220.5)

Why Bet on Golden State?

Despite shooting very poorly from the field, the Warriors were able to rally for a 101-98 home win in Game 4 vs. Memphis for a 3-1 series lead. The Dubs were playing without head coach Steve Kerr, who tested positive for COVID and is not likely to play in this one, either. Mike Brown, who already has been named the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings, will continue to run the team.

It was not the first time Brown filled in for Kerr — Brown coached the Warriors in 11 consecutive playoff games in 2017 (April 22, 2017, First Round, Game 3 at Portland to June 1, 2017, NBA Finals Game 1 vs. Cleveland), winning all 11. Kerr returned to coach in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 4.

With just over 9½ minutes to go in the game, the Warriors found themselves trailing by eight points. But over the next three minutes, Golden State outscored Memphis 12-4. Steph Curry scored 18 of his 32 points in the final frame, eight of which came from the free throw line.

The Warriors never led until they took a 94-93 lead on Curry free throws with 45.7 seconds left in the game. Although he led the game in scoring, Curry’s night wouldn’t necessarily be categorized as “good,” as he finished shooting 10-of-25 from the floor, including 4-of-14 from beyond the 3-point line.

“Because [Curry] doesn’t think about the past or dwell on it too hard, he always thinks about the next thing that is going to happen in a positive manner for him, whether it’s a made shot or the right pass,” Brown said. “He’s always confident because he thinks next play all of the time.”

Andrew Wiggins finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jonathan Kuminga started but played just five minutes tonight and Wiggins stepped up for his best game of these playoffs. He’s been very consistent though, scoring either 16 or 17 points in all four games of this series.

Jordan Poole came off the bench to finish with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Poole had scored 27, 20 and 31 points in the other three games of this series and this was his first game without a 3-pointer since way back on Feb. 27 against Dallas when he played just 19 minutes.

The Warriors have a 43-24 all-time record in series-clinching games, including 19-8 since 2015. In Game 5s, the Warriors have a 26-22 record, including 12-3 since the 2015.

Why Bet on Memphis?

The Grizzlies had their largest lead of Game 4, a 12-point advantage, 76-64, with 10:35 left in the fourth quarter. Golden State rallied, taking its first lead of the game on two Steph Curry free throws with 45.7 seconds remaining, 94-93. That is the latest the Warriors took their first lead in a playoff win over the last 30 years.

The Warriors scored their final 11 points from the free throw line (in the last 1:11), eight coming from Curry. The Warriors outrebounded the Grizzlies, 54-48, marking the fourth straight game Golden State has outrebounded Memphis, after not doing so in each of the four regular season meetings. It was the fifth time in this year’s playoffs that the Warriors rallied from a double-figure deficit to win, and the third time in the series to do so – Golden State overcame 13-point deficit in Games 1 and 3.

With star Ja Morant out with a knee injury, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 21 points, five rebounds and five blocks, while Tyus Jones notched 19 points with six rebounds and five assists. Kyle Anderson scored a season-high 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the field. Steven Adams notched a double-double with 15 rebounds and 10 points.

After returning from his one-game suspension, Dillon Brooks had a rough night. Warriors fans welcomed Brooks back to the court with loud boos that persisted throughout the game and intensified on every shot he took. Brooks struggled from start to finish, scoring 12 points with five rebounds and eight assists on 5-of-19 from the field and 2-of-9 from 3-point range.

Coach Taylor Jenkins applauded Brooks’ efforts on the defensive end and believes the 26-year-old will turn it around in Game 5.

“Yeah, got a lot of trust in him, and I loved what he was doing defensively,” Jenkins said postgame. “Had a big three, big two late in the game, just ball wasn’t bouncing for him the majority of the game, but got a lot of trust in that guy.

Memphis has a 3-11 record in elimination games, including 0-1 since 2020.