The race for the NBA playoffs begins like a long road race, with every team at the same point on the starting line. With 82 games in the season, it generally isn’t very long before the best teams race to the front and start to pull away from the pack. There are some who will never get close to the leaders, basically shutting it down long before the season comes to a close.
Then there are those who hang around just long enough to make it into the playoffs, fully aware that they are likely looking at an opening round exit once the playoffs get started. That is where the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves at the moment. As it stands right now, they are in the playoff picture but looking at a potential first round series against the LA Lakers.
They still have time to move up the standings and will try to get that started with a home game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies are in a s a bit of a surprising 1-point favorite for this one, with the point total set at 225.
Nuggets vs Grizzlies 2020 NBA Lines, Game Preview & Pick
- When: Tuesday, January 28 at 8 PM EST
- Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
- TV: FSSE
- Radio: Denver / Memphis
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Grizzlies -1.5
Why bet on the Denver Nuggets?
Running down the LA Lakers in the Western Conference is going to be a tough task, but there are a couple of teams who look to be up for the fight. The Denver Nuggets are one of those teams, although they are still 4 games off the pace currently being set by the Lakers. The Nuggets come into this one with a 32-14 record on the season and are also in the midst of a modest 2-game winning streak.
They have been very good over the last 10 games, posting a 7-3 record, so it’s perhaps a little surprising that they are in as the underdog in this one. This is especially true when you consider that they have already beaten the Grizzlies twice this season, including a 131-114 win in their last visit to Memphis. Overall, they are 14-8 on the road this season.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 109.50
- Field Goals: 46.09%
- Three Points: 34.64%
- Free Throws: 77.50%
- Rebounds: 44.83
- Average Score Against: 106.04
- Field Goals: 45.44%
- Three Points: 33.57%
- Free Throws: 75.59%
- Rebounds: 43.61
Why bet on the Memphis Grizzlies?
Don’t look now, but the Memphis Grizzlies have come to life and are on the move. They have been brilliant of late, going 8-2 in their last 10 games, although that still leaves them 2 games below .500 at 22-24 on the season. That positive run of form has helped them move into the #8 seed in the Western Conference, 2 games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs, the first team below the playoff line. The Grizzlies have won 2 in a row, but they are still beatable at home, going 13-13 there this season. Versus teams with a winning record, things are really not very good, with the Grizzlies going 5-15 in those games. They are, though, winners of 7 of their last 8 games at home.Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 113.46
- Field Goals: 47.24%
- Three Points: 36.01%
- Free Throws: 78.82%
- Rebounds: 45.63
- Average Score Against: 115.83
- Field Goals: 46.02%
- Three Points: 36.83%
- Free Throws: 79.07%
- Rebounds: 44.57
NBA Betting Trends for Nuggets vs Grizzlies
- Denver are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Denver’s last 10 games
- Memphis are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games
- Memphis are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis’ last 7 games
Nuggets vs Grizzlies Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The Grizzlies are on a fantastic run of form right now, but they have not been good against the better teams in the league and have yet to beat the Nuggets this season. I am on Denver to win this in a bit of a close one.
Denver Nuggets 117 Memphis Grizzlies 114
