The Houston Rockets have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. They await either the San Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies. San Antonio can finish off the Grizzlies on Thursday night in Game 6 back in Memphis, and oddsmakers believe that will be the case. Let’s take a closer look at the NBA lines for this matchup.
When: Thursday, April 27, 9:30 PM ET
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Spurs -4 (190)
Backup point guard Patty Mills went off for 20 points. He had been held in check during the previous four games of this series with averages of 7.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 triples. Mills hit 7-of-10 shots with five 3-pointers, two rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes. Starting guard Tony Parker finished with 16 points, six assists, two rebounds, one steal and two 3-pointers in 30 minutes.
Manu Ginobili scored 10 points, on 4-of- 6 shooting, knocked down a 3-pointer, dished three assists and gobbled up three steals. Over the first four games of the series, Ginobili hadn’t scored a single point, having gone 0-for- 15 from the field in that span. In Memphis, before Game 4, Ginobili admitted he wasn’t feeling totally comfortable.
San Antonio’s bench outscored or matched the production of their opponent’s reserves in 57 games during the season, including 22 of the past 27 games. It came up huge in Game 5.
“We did not play defense at all,” Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said. “The Spurs did what the Spurs do. Every mistake, they capitalized on, and it ended in a 3 every time.”
Marc Gasol hit 6-of- 12 shots for 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, zero steals, zero blocks and zero 3-pointers in 41 minutes on Tuesday. However, outside of the duo, the Grizzlies failed to generate much on the offensive end.
Offensively, Gasol’s shot attempts have decreased each game of the series, dipping from 18 in Game 1 to 15, 14 and 12 in each of the past two contests. Defensively, the Spurs are scoring 115.8 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor and the minus-8.2 net rating so far this postseason is the second-worst of his playoff career.
“We expected it to be a long series,” said Conley, who is averaging 24.4 points, a series-best 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 48.3 percent on threes. “We’re treating every game like it’s the last game. That’s our mindset, so we have to do whatever it takes to get Game 6 at home.”
The Spurs have hit more 3-pointers than the Grizzlies in San Antonio, 33-23, while the Grizzlies have hit more 3-pointers than the Spurs in Memphis, 21-19. the Spurs have out-rebounded the Grizzlies in San Antonio, 133-107, but the Grizzlies have out-rebounded the Spurs in Memphis, 84-79. The Spurs bench has been plus 14.3 in San Antonio and minus 3.9 in Memphis. The Grizzlies bench has been plus 1.9 in Memphis and minus 14.8 in San Antonio.
The Grizzlies franchise has a mixed record in such dire situations as this. They have never lost three games in a playoff series and not lost the fourth. The Grizzlies are 3-9 in win-or- go-home situations. Four of those games were the last games in sweeps. So they’re 3-5 in win-or-go-home games in competitive series. And they’re 2-1 in Games 6s when trailing 2-3. In 2011, the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 against Oklahoma City by winning Game 6. In 2012, the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 against the Clippers by winning Games 5 and 6.
San Antonio at Memphis NBA Playoffs Lines & Game 6 Preview
When: Thursday, April 27, 9:30 PM ET
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Spurs -4 (190)
Why Bet On San Antonio?
The home team has won every meeting between the Spurs and Grizzlies in 2016-17, including the regular season. In Game 5, it was 116-103 for San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and has now scored in double digits in 25 straight playoff games which is the longest streak by a Spur since Tim Duncan’s 26 from 2011-2013. He finished 9-of- 16 from the field and 7-of- 8 from the line (his first FT miss of the series), adding six assists, one rebound, one steal and two triples. Leonard has scored 158 points through the first 5 games of the playoffs, the 2nd-most in Spurs history behind George Gervin in 1978.Backup point guard Patty Mills went off for 20 points. He had been held in check during the previous four games of this series with averages of 7.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 triples. Mills hit 7-of-10 shots with five 3-pointers, two rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes. Starting guard Tony Parker finished with 16 points, six assists, two rebounds, one steal and two 3-pointers in 30 minutes.
Manu Ginobili scored 10 points, on 4-of- 6 shooting, knocked down a 3-pointer, dished three assists and gobbled up three steals. Over the first four games of the series, Ginobili hadn’t scored a single point, having gone 0-for- 15 from the field in that span. In Memphis, before Game 4, Ginobili admitted he wasn’t feeling totally comfortable.
San Antonio’s bench outscored or matched the production of their opponent’s reserves in 57 games during the season, including 22 of the past 27 games. It came up huge in Game 5.
“We did not play defense at all,” Grizzlies coach David Fizdale said. “The Spurs did what the Spurs do. Every mistake, they capitalized on, and it ended in a 3 every time.”
Why Bet On Memphis?
Mike Conley hit 10-of- 17 shots and two 3-pointers for 26 points, two rebounds, six dimes, four steals and two 3-pointers in Tuesday’s loss. Conley has finally been playing up to his massive contract in these playoffs, averaging 27.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.0 3-pointers over his last four games. He’ll have to bring his A game on Thursday at home to force a Game 7.Marc Gasol hit 6-of- 12 shots for 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, zero steals, zero blocks and zero 3-pointers in 41 minutes on Tuesday. However, outside of the duo, the Grizzlies failed to generate much on the offensive end.
Offensively, Gasol’s shot attempts have decreased each game of the series, dipping from 18 in Game 1 to 15, 14 and 12 in each of the past two contests. Defensively, the Spurs are scoring 115.8 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor and the minus-8.2 net rating so far this postseason is the second-worst of his playoff career.
“We expected it to be a long series,” said Conley, who is averaging 24.4 points, a series-best 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 48.3 percent on threes. “We’re treating every game like it’s the last game. That’s our mindset, so we have to do whatever it takes to get Game 6 at home.”
The Spurs have hit more 3-pointers than the Grizzlies in San Antonio, 33-23, while the Grizzlies have hit more 3-pointers than the Spurs in Memphis, 21-19. the Spurs have out-rebounded the Grizzlies in San Antonio, 133-107, but the Grizzlies have out-rebounded the Spurs in Memphis, 84-79. The Spurs bench has been plus 14.3 in San Antonio and minus 3.9 in Memphis. The Grizzlies bench has been plus 1.9 in Memphis and minus 14.8 in San Antonio.
The Grizzlies franchise has a mixed record in such dire situations as this. They have never lost three games in a playoff series and not lost the fourth. The Grizzlies are 3-9 in win-or- go-home situations. Four of those games were the last games in sweeps. So they’re 3-5 in win-or-go-home games in competitive series. And they’re 2-1 in Games 6s when trailing 2-3. In 2011, the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 against Oklahoma City by winning Game 6. In 2012, the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 against the Clippers by winning Games 5 and 6.
