NY Knicks at Memphis Pro Basketball Betting Prediction

Posted by Michael Hunt on Thursday,April 6, 2017 9:47, EDT in

NBA News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

Really not much at stake on Friday night from Memphis when the New York Knicks make their only visit of the season. The Knicks have long been eliminated from the playoffs, while the Grizzlies are essentially locked into the No. 7 seed in the West. Thus you could see some key players rest. Memphis should be a home NBA betting favorite.

NY Knicks at Memphis Pro Basketball Betting Prediction

When: Friday, April 7, 8 PM ET
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.tv
Radio: New York / Memphis
NBA Odds: TBA

Why Bet On New York?

It will be the second of a back-to- back for the Knicks as they hosted Washington on Thursday. The Knicks had upset the Bulls on Tuesday, 100-91, despite playing without Derrick Rose, who is out for the year, and star Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is the only player in the NBA this season to have at least 1195 points, 470 rebounds, 130 blocks and 110 three-pointers. It’s not clear if he will play here or be shut down.

Rose underwent a left knee arthroscopy for a medial meniscus tear on Wednesday. He is expected to make a full recovery and will begin basketball activities in 3-6 weeks. Ron Baker started at point guard for the Knicks on Tuesday had nine points, four rebounds, six assists, two steals and a 3-pointer in 37 minutes on Tuesday. The Knicks will continue to look at the rookie.

Maurice Ndour got the call at power forward on Tuesday with Porzingis out with a back injury and had career highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds to go along with two steal. Ndour also saw a career high of 33 minutes, nearly double his previous high of 18 minutes.

Baker, Willy Hernangomez, and Ndour were in the starting lineup for the Knicks Tuesday, all rookies. The last time New York won a game in which it started more than two rookies was on Nov. 19, 1985, when Patrick Ewing, Bob Thornton, and Gerald Wilkins started in a 98-94 victory over the Washington Bullets.

This is the final of six away-away back-to- backs this season. The Knicks are 5-9 on the frontend and 3-10 on the backend of back-to- backs this season.

New York beat Memphis 111-104 back on Oct. 29. Porzingis had 21 points and five rebounds. Carmelo Anthony had 20 points. This is New York’s final road game.

Why Bet On Memphis?

The Grizzlies are banged up and thus have some players iffy for this one. Point guard Mike Conley has an eye issue. He collided with San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard in Tuesday’s game. Conley’s eye was repaired by what one of the team’s athletic trainers called "a continuous stitch.” Grizzlies coach David Fizdale claimed Conley was “knocked unconscious” in the collision, but the point guard said he would have returned to the game if the team’s medical staff had been able to stop the bleeding.

Conley, who signed the NBA’s richest contract in free agency, has produced a career season. He came into Tuesday’s matchup averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 assists in 65 outings. If he’s out, Wade Baldwin and Andrew Harrison would likely share the point guard minutes. Tony Allen also has an eye problem.

Center Marc Gasol has a foot issue. Forward/center JaMychal Green has a shoulder problem. Memphis, with 718 three‐pointers made in 2016‐17, has already set a new single‐season franchise record for threes, passing the old record of 620 set in 2007‐08. The Grizzlies are on pace to set a new single‐season record for three‐pointers made this season. Memphis has made 10‐or‐more threes in 38 games this season. That is 20 more than the 18 times the team had hit at least 10 triples in a game over the last six seasons combined (seven times in 2015‐16, five times in 2014‐15, three times in both 2013‐14 and 2012‐13; the team did not make 10 threes in a game during the 2011‐12 and 2010‐11 seasons.). The Grizzlies are making 9.3 threes per game this season after making just 4.8 per game over the past six seasons combined.

The Grizzlies are 10‐0 this season when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. Memphis’ interior defense has been strong once again this season. The Grizzlies lead the league for points in the paint allowed this season and have held their opponents to 35 points in the paint or fewer an NBA‐high 32 times this season, going 24‐8 in those games.