Memphis Grizzlies vs Sacramento Kings 02/20/20 NBA Betting Odds and Prediction

The Memphis Grizzlies resume their hunt for the playoffs with a visit to the Golden 1 Center and a showdown with the Sacramento Kings on February 20, 2020.

The Grizzlies have made a run at the playoffs and they have climbed to 8th place in the Western Conference team standings after losing just twice in their last 10 outings. The Grizzlies have won four of five and they head to his game with a two-game winning streak. The Kings are seven games behind the Grizzlies for the final playoff seat in the West. Sacramento has struggled to find consistency this season although they have won six out of their last 10 outings. Sacramento enters this matchup with back to back losses in their last two outings.

Grizzlies Making a Playoff Run

After a slow start, the Memphis Grizzlies are making a playoff run. The Grizzlies have won eight out of their last 10 games played and they are currently in 8th place in the Western Conference team standings. Memphis has a 28-26 record at the All-Star break and they are four games ahead of 9th seeded Portland.

Ja Morant has been the key to the Grizzlies’ success. The rookie phenom is averaging 17.6 points and 7.1 assists per game this season. Jaren Jackson Jr. is having his best season at 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Dillon Brooks is adding 15.7 points per contest while Jonas Valanciunas is averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Memphis ranks 11th in the league in scoring at 113.0 points per game on the year. The Grizzlies are 9th overall in rebounding at 45.8 boards grabbed per contest and they are the top passing team in the league at 27.4 assists per game this season. The Grizzlies are in the bottom 10 in scoring defense at 114.4 points per game allowed.

May Be Too Late for the Kings

The Sacramento Kings are starting to put together victories. Sacramento has won six out of their last 10 assignments to improve to 21-33 on the season but it may be too late as they are third from the bottom in the Western Conference team standings and are a far seven games behind the current 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies. The Kings hope to chop a bit of that league on Thursday night.

Buddy Hield leads the Kings in scoring at 20.4 points per game this season. Hield won the Three-Point contest last weekend’s 2020 All-Star weekend. De’Aaron Fox is putting up 19.7 points and 7.0 assists per game this season but he’s played just 36 games due to injuries. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley III, and Nemanja Bejilca are helping out with twin-digit scoring averages for the Kings.

Sacramento ranks 24th in the league in scoring at 107.9 points per game on the year. They are last when it comes to rebounding at only 42.3 rebounds per game and they are 23rd in passing at 23.2 assists per contest. The Kings are 17th in scoring defense at 110.8 points per game allowed.

Who Wins?

Memphis is 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. The Grizzlies are 4-2 SU in their last six games played on the road, 10-2 SU in their last 12 games against the Western Conference, and 7-1 SU in their last eight games against the Pacific Division. Sacramento is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Kings are 3-2 SU in their last five games played on the road, 2-5 SU in their last seven games played against the Southwest Division, and 4-2 SU in their last six Thursday games. Head to head, the Kings are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played against the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are surprising many people as they have made their way to the Top 8 in the Western Conference despite having an established superstar. Rookie Ja Morant has been sensational while Jaren Jackson Jr has improved leaps and bounds for Memphis. A resurgent Jonas Valanciunas has given this team the inside presence needed to open up the floor for the creative Morant.

Sacramento is having a disappointing season. This team was supposed to be one of the favorites to make the playoffs but injuries to De’Aaron Fox have prevented them from playing with consistency. The Kings have been playing well as of late though and Buddy Hield is coming off a win at last weekend’s Thee-Point contest.

Both teams are playing good basketball right now but not only are the Grizzlies playing a little much better, but they have also been the more consistent team in the last month or so. Memphis also has a balanced scoring attack which makes it hard for opponents to stop them. Sacramento also has several contributors but I think Memphis has more momentum here.

Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies

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Other Bets to Make

The Grizzlies are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played. Memphis is 4-2 ATS in their last six games played on the road. The Kings are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. Sacramento is 3-2 ATS in their last five games played at home, and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 February games. Head to head, the Kings are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played against the Grizzlies. Sacramento is also 4-1 ATS in their last five home games against Memphis.

You have to like the Kings because Buddy Hield is coming off a win at the Three-Point contest which should give him plenty of confidence here. However, Hield has shot just 31% in two games against Memphis this season and the Grizzlies have plenty of scoring options. I like Memphis to cover the spread here because of their depth.

Prediction: Grizzlies -1.5

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The total has gone under in three out of the last five games played by the Grizzlies. The over is 5-1 in Memphis’ last six games played on the road. The total has gone over in 13 out of the last 16 games played by the Kings. Sacramento has seen the total go over in six out of their last eight games played at home. Head to head, the over is 3-2 in the last five meetings between these two teams.

Both these teams are in the Bottom 10 in the league in scoring defense so I expect plenty of scoring here. Sacramento has allowed at least 123 points in their last two games, both losses. Memphis is averaging 121 points per game against Sacramento this season and these teams have combined for 234 and 251 points, in their first and second meetings of the season, respectively. Go with the over.

Prediction: Over 228

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