A potential Finals preview and a matchup of superstar point guards is a highlight as Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks visit Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, who are favored on the NBA Betting Lines.

New York goes for the season sweep, as it was a 4.5-point home favorite against the Grizzlies on Jan. 27 and played one of its best games of the year in a 143-106 blowout victory.

NBA Betting Lines Knicks vs Grizzlies & TV Info

Betting on NBA Moneylines: Memphis -177 / New York +143
When: Friday, 8 PM ET
Where: FedExForum
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app

Mikal Bridges had 28 points, six assists and five rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Brunson had 20 points and six assists for the Knicks. New York led by eight at halftime and outscored Memphis 83-54 in the second half to hand the Grizzlies’ their largest margin of defeat this season.

Memphis turned the ball over a season-high 26 times – 19 over the first three quarters – and the Knicks had a 36-14 advantage in points off turnovers. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points for Memphis, and Desmond Bane chipped in 16. But Morant struggled with Bridges, a terrific defender all over him, as Morant had just 10 points on 5-for-13 shooting and Memphis was outscored by 41 points when he was in the game. The Grizzlies trailed by as many as 39 points – they entered on a six-game winning streak.

“I thought our defensive activity was terrific. Big-time multiple-effort game. Twenty steals. OG [Anunoby] and Mikal were all over the place. And that set the tone for us,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I thought Mikal really worked [guarding Morant]. I thought our team did. And a guy like [Morant], you try to make him work.”

A Knicks-Grizzlies exact NBA Finals matchup is priced +13000.

Knicks Aren’t Beating Good Teams

Despite owning the league’s fifth-best record, the Knicks are currently 0-7 against the top teams in the league: the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics. Five of those defeats weren’t truly competitive, either. New York had lost two straight games (in Cleveland and Boston) before snapping that skid Wednesday with a 110-105 home win over short-handed Philadelphia.

Jalen Brunson was terrific with 34 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Brunson took on a more prominent scoring role in the second half, especially in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter when he scored nine straight points to help the Knicks pull away. His 15 free throws were his second most of the season, and he reached the 30-point threshold for the 20th time on the year. Brunson has averaged 27.1 points on 48.9 percent shooting and 6.9 assists over his last 10 outings.

Karl-Anthony Towns

With All-Star center Towns out due to knee soreness and questionable for the next game, rookie Ariel Hukporti made his NBA starting debut. Towns was ruled out before the Sixers game, while Mitchell Robinson is still recovering from ankle surgery. Hukporti, aged 22, started but unfortunately left the game with a knee injury and is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.

It’s possible that Robinson makes his season debut on Friday. Regardless of how much Robinson plays, he’ll make a difference defensively and on the boards when back. A season ago, he led the Knicks with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game and was tied for the team lead with 1.1 blocks per game.

“Mitch is an elite pick-and-roll defender,’’ Coach Tom Thibodeau said. “[He’s] an elite rim protector [and] an elite offensive rebounder.”

Grizzlies Off Season-High Point Total

Memphis scored a season-high 151 points on Tuesday night in beating visiting Phoenix by three points in overtime. Ja Morant had 29 points and eight assists to pace the Grizzlies, who recorded 150+ points for the third time in franchise history. Jaren Jackson Jr. tallied 28 points, while Desmond Bane had 25 points and nine assists.

Morant scored the final 11 points of regulation for the Grizzlies, including the game-tying floater with 1.4 seconds left, to put Memphis into overtime for the first time this season. He later found Jaylen Wells for a dunk in traffic that put Memphis up by three with 9.1 seconds remaining in overtime. Memphis outscored the Suns 52-34 in points in the paint and scored 23 points off the Suns turnovers. The 299 combined points represented the highest combined score in franchise history.

On a night where Morant only shot 7-for-25 from the field and appeared frustrated early in the game, his resiliency helped the Grizzlies pull out the win. Morant didn’t make a shot from the field in the first half, missing eight shots overall and five 3-pointers. All six of his points came on free throws.

Taylor Jenkins

“Give him so much credit and how proud of him I am,” Jenkins said of Morant after the game. “He still took 12 threes, he was in rhythm, he was getting open shots, his teammates were trusting him even though they weren’t falling he was taking them with confidence.”

Memphis earned the win despite Phoenix recording the highest single-game score by a Grizzlies opponent ever and despite the Suns shooting 13-of-16 from 3-point range in the second half after leading at halftime.

Knicks at Grizzlies Expert Prediction

The Knicks can add a player via a prorated veteran’s minimum contract while remaining below the hard cap as early as Friday. They have an open roster spot, but as a first-apron team, they can’t sign a player who made more than $12.8 million before being bought out.

That leaves them with limited options from the buyout market and some candidates to be signed are T.J. Warren, Chuma Okeke, Chris Duarte, Christian Wood and Josh Richardson with Warren and Okeke topping the list since both are playing for the Westchester Knicks, their NBA G League club. All five Knicks starters have scored in double-figures 28 times this season, tops in the league.

New York’s defense has been an issue, as the Knicks are 19th in defensive efficiency, per NBA.com. They are 25th in opponent field goal percentage and dead last in opponent three-point percentage. The Knicks are third in offensive rating and shoot well from the floor (third) and from three (sixth).

Jaylen Wells

Wells, the Grizzlies’ rookie surprise, is a starter for the West’s No. 2 seed, averaging 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and strong shooting stats while taking on tough defensive roles, playing every game this season. Despite being a second-round pick (No. 39 overall), Wells has the second-best betting odds for Rookie of the Year, only trailing Stephon Castle of the Spurs.

“I mean, I don’t really focus on it,” Wells said of the ROY race. “I’m focused on getting a championship. And if it just so happens… I feel like if I’m playing winning basketball, it should fall right into my hands. So that’s kinda how my mindset is.”

The Grizzlies are 22-6 at FedExForum this season, and we think that becomes 23-6 on Friday. The overall series vs. New York is tied 27-27 with Memphis leading 15-12 at home. Grizzlies 123, Knicks 117.

NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️

▪️ GSW wins 5th straight, moves to 7th in West
▪️ LAL wins 4th straight, moves to 4th in West

Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/pBKIAWNToa pic.twitter.com/Dl7ard502H

— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2025

NBA Betting Center

---

Updated NBA Odds | Sportsbook Lines

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later