The Golden State Warriors visit FedExForum Tuesday to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Warriors vs. Grizzlies odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Warriors won the opener 117-116 Sunday.
PG Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in Game 1, scoring 34 points. PF Jaren Jackson Jr. was also incredible, scoring a season-high 33, including six 3’s to match a season-high.
Despite four-time All-Star PF Draymond Green being ejected in the second quarter, the Warriors still came out on top as SG Jordan Poole scored a team-high 31 points.
The Warriors failed to cover as 1.5-point favorites Sunday, dropping their ATS (against the spread) record as road favorites to 11-14-2. The Grizzlies are 8-3 ATS as home underdogs, the fourth-best covering rate in the league.
Warriors at Grizzlies odds and lines
- Money line: Warriors -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Grizzlies +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread: Warriors -1.5 (-120) | Grizzlies +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Warriors at Grizzlies key injuries
Warriors
- F Andre Iguodala (cervical) out
- SG Klay Thompson (knee) probable
Grizzlies
- C Steven Adams (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Desmond Bane (back) questionable
- SG Ziaire Williams (knee) questionable
Warriors at Grizzlies picks and predictions
Prediction
Grizzlies 114, Warriors 111
Money line
BET GRIZZLIES (+105).
While there was quite a scene made around Green getting ejected, that may have lit a spark in the Warriors in the second half of Game 1.
While the Warriors averaged the second-most turnovers (14.9 per game) in the NBA this season, their inability to keep the ball should continue to play a factor as they lost the turnover battle 17-14 in Game 1 – Green had 5 turnovers before his ejection.
Poole shooting 60% (12-for-20) likely won’t be repeated, especially against Memphis’ top-6 defense. I also wouldn’t expect to see Grizzlies SF Dillon Brooks struggle as heavily as he did in the opener where he was 3-for-13 from the field.
Look for the Oregon Ducks product to bounce back in Game 2 just as he did in first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After going 3-for-18 in a Game 5 win against Minnesota, he responded with 23 points in Game 6’s clincher.
Game 1 of this series came down to the wire. Quite a bit when right for the Warriors, especially considering they won the rebounding battle 51-47.
Expect turnovers and rebounds to be a bigger storyline and the Grizzlies to come out on top in Game 2.