The Memphis Grizzlies head to the Golden 1 Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
Memphis was the hottest team in the league last week and carried an 11-game winning streak. However, they have followed that up with back-to-back road losses to the Lakers and Suns. The Grizzlies play three more road games before playing at home again. If they want to get back on track, they need to beat the surging Kings. Memphis is 31-15 SU on the season but they are just 11-12 SU on the road this year.
Sacramento has risen to the top of the Pacific Division team standings and is in third place in the Western Conference, 4.5 games behind the Grizzlies in the team standings. The Kings won six in a row before dropping a close 127-125 contest to the Philadelphia 76ers in their last game. Sacramento is 26-19 on the year and they are 15-10 SU when playing at home.
The Grizzlies won two out of the first three head-to-head meetings between these two teams, including their most recent encounter last January 2 in Memphis.
The Grizzlies dropped a second straight game when they came up short against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in the desert. Memphis rallied from a massive 29-point third-quarter deficit and cut the lead to 110-108 with 28.6 seconds left. However, the Suns were able to hold off the Grizzlies who dropped to 0-2 in their current five-game road trip.
Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 27 points while Desmond Bane added 24 for Memphis. One game ago, Memphis shot 26-40 from the foul line and allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to come from behind and beat them 122-121. On Sunday, Memphis lost by only two points to the Suns 112-110 despite outscoring Phoenix 38-25 in the final period.
The Kings saw their six-game winning streak end the last time out as they were beaten by a Philadelphia 76ers team that played without Joel Embiid and James Harden. De’Aaron Fox had a big game with 31 points and 9 assists while Harrison Barnes added 27 on 6-9 three-point shooting. Kevin Huerter added 20 for the Kings.
Sacramento led 71-50 early in the game but the Sixers rallied behind a balanced scoring attack. With the Sixers up three in the closing seconds, Harrison Barnes was fouled on a three-point attempt but he missed the first of three free throws. After making the second foul shot, Barnes intentionally missed the third but the ball went to the Sixers as time expired.
The Grizzlies are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played against the Kings. Memphis is also 4-0 SU in their last four games played in Sacramento.
Memphis Grizzlies SU trends:
Sacramento Kings SU trends:
After watching their rally come up short against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, the Memphis Grizzlies remain on the road and head to the capital of California for a date with the Pacific Division leaders Sacramento Kings.
Memphis is 0-2 SU for far in their current road trip, losing by one point to the Lakers in Los Angeles and by two points in Phoenix. Prior to those losses, they won 11 consecutive games, including eight played at home. The Grizzlies are just 11-12 SU in 23 road games played this season so playing away from home has not been their strong suit.
On Monday, the Grizzlies rallied from a 62-37 halftime deficit against the Suns only to come up short 112-110. Despite suffering back-to-back losses, Memphis still spots the West’s 2nd best record but they will be tested by a Sacramento team that ranks just next to them in the Conference standings at no. 3.
The Kings have won six out of their last seven games played and are 4.5 games behind the Grizzlies in the West team standings. Sacramento won six in a row before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers 129-127 at home the last time out. De’Aaron Fox had 31 points to lead the Kings while Domantas Sabonis added 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Grizzlies have won two out of their first three meetings against the Kings this season and Sabonis has put up just 13.5 points per game in those three encounters. The battle between Ja Morant and De’Aaron Fox will be one to watch. Morant put up 22,34, and 35 in those games while Fox put up 27,32, and 19 in those meetings.
Fatigue could be a factor for Memphis having played on Sunday. However, they are a young team, and given the controversies that they have been involved in lately, this is a team that wants to bounce back as soon as they can. The Grizzlies have the Kings’ number. I think Memphis has enough offense to outlast the Kings here.
Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games played against the Kings. Memphis is 4-0 ATS in their last four games played in Sacramento.
Memphis Grizzlies ATS trends:
Sacramento Kings ATS trends:
Grizzlies
-1 (-110)
Kings
+1 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 01/23/2023
Last January 2, in the most recent game between these two teams, the Grizzlies defeated the Kings 118-108 at home with Ja Morant scoring 35 points on 13-23 shooting and 8-10 from the foul line. Sacramento’s defense could not contain Morant and Memphis ran away with the victory. In that game, Steven Adams posted a double-double with 11 points and 23 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards.
I can see both Morant and Adams starring again for the Grizzlies with Ja attacking the basket all night long and Adams dominating the boards, giving Sabonis plenty of problems.
Defense-wise, the Grizzlies are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA while the Kings’ defense cannot be trusted. They have conceded at least 115 points six times in their last 10 games played. Give me the Grizzlies to bounce back.
Prediction: Grizzlies
The total has gone under in six out of the last 10 games played between the Grizzlies and Kings. The over is 5-1 in their last six head-to-head meetings in Sacramento.
Memphis Grizzlies over/under trends:
Over
244.5 (-110)
Under
244.5 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 01/23/2023
These are two of the fastest teams in the NBA and this should be a high-scoring ball game. The Grizzlies have hit at least 234 points in seven out of their last 9 games played while the Kings have hit at least 234 points six times in their last 8 games played.
I expect both teams to push the ball and score plenty of transition points. The Kings are putting up 120 points per game this season while the Grizzlies are not far behind at 117.6 points per game. I expect a shootout on Monday night. However, the total has gone up to 244.5 points and I think that may be too high, even for these two teams.
Prediction: Under 244.5
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