Golden State vs Memphis Odds Game 2 Preview & Predictions

The Golden State Warriors won a thrilling Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series in Memphis on Sunday despite losing Draymond Green to ejection late in the first half. The Dubs are short road favorites on the NBA odds to take a 2-0 lead Tuesday.

How to Bet Warriors at Grizzlies NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 9:30 PM ET
Where: FedExForum
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Warriors -2 (total 227.5)

Why Bet on Golden State?

Despite All-Star Draymond Green being ejected late in the first half of Game 1, the Warriors prevailed 117-116 as Klay Thompson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left. He would then miss two free throws with about seven seconds left but the Grizzlies couldn’t capitalize. Thompson finished with only 15 points in 31 minutes after averaging 22.6 points in Round 1 vs. Denver.

Stephen Curry went 8-of-20 from the field for 25 points with five made three-pointers and just one turnover across 37 minutes. Curry missed a wide-open 3 with under a minute left that would have put the Warriors on top, but he made up for it by blocking Ja Morant’s shot on the following possession.

Jordan Poole went led the Warriors with 31 points, adding nine assists and eight rebounds. Poole got the start in the Warriors’ Game 5 closer over the Nuggets in their first round series, and while he returned to the bench for this one with Gary Payton II getting the start, he still led the Dubs in scoring and replaced GP2 in the first unit after halftime.

Poole became the fifth Warriors player to score at least 30 points in a playoff game coming off the bench, joining Curry (three times), Cazzie Russell, Purvis Short and Terry Teagle. Through six games in the playoffs, Poole is averaging 22.7 points on 56.1% shooting — including 48.8% from beyond the arc — and playing a career-high 33 minutes per game. Not bad for a guy the Warriors sent to the G League bubble in February 2021 so he could find some more minutes.

Green was ejected Sunday after picking up a Flagrant 2 foul as he attempted to deny Brandon Clarke at the rim. It was a questionable call and Green won’t be suspended.

With the Game 1 victory, the Warriors have won at least one road game in each of the last 25 playoff series, an NBA record streak that began with a road victory in Denver in the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs (131-117 on April 23, 2013). Green (25), Thompson (25) and Curry (24) are the only players to win at least one road game in every playoff series they’ve played in (minimum 20). Curry missed the 2018 first round series vs. San Antonio.

In Game 2s, the Warriors have a 39-33 record, including 18-8 since the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

Why Bet on Memphis?

The Grizzlies trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter of Game 1 before an 18-7 scoring run evened the score at 112-112 with two minutes remaining. Ja Morant connected with Brandon Clarke on an inbounds lob the put the Grizzlies up 116-114. Then Klay Thompson hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 36 seconds left.

Morant missed a tough left-handed layup in traffic as time expired in Game 1. He fell one rebound shy of securing a triple-double in the loss, as he finished with 34 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. He did go down hard while skying for a rebound early in the first quarter and seemed to land right on his tailbone but he played through it.

Jaren Jackson Jr. notched a double-double with 33 points shooting to go with 10 rebounds. Morant & Jackson Jr. became the 2nd duo age-22 or younger in NBA playoff history with 30 points in the same game. After a career-worst slump in the first round vs the Timberwolves, Jackson Jr. may have finally broken out of a terrible slump. It was just the fifth time in his NBA career he scored at least 30 points. After committing 31 total fouls in six games and averaging 24.5 minutes of action per game in the first round, Jackson finished Game 1 with only three fouls— his fewest since April 9 when he committed two.

Dillon Brooks really struggled, shooting 3-for-13 for eight points. While he shot 43.2% from the floor during the regular season, he’s regressed to converting just 35.8% of his shots through the postseason thus far. De’Anthony Melton led the reserves with 14 points and seven rebounds while Clarke finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Grizzlies fell behind 1-0 in their first round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves before rebounding to win the series in six games. Memphis played Game 1 without center Steven Adams in COVID protocols. Not yet clear if he can return for Game 2. The Grizzlies don’t normally get out-scored in the paint, but Golden State beat them 56-44 in the paint.