Time seems to be running out for the Los Angeles Lakers and their playoff hopes but if they still plan to make the postseason, they’ll need to take care of business vs the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. The Lakers are 2-4 SU and ATS in six games since LeBron James came back from injury and have been a train wreck defensively by allowing 126.3 points per game.
The Lakers opened as 6.5-point faves (since moved to 4.5) with a total of 220.5.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Game Center
STANDOUT STATS
- The Lakers are 2-4 ATS in six games since LeBron James returned to the lineup. Five of those games were on the road with the Lakers going 1-4 ATS.
- In the last six games, the Lakers are allowing 126.3 points per game to rank last in the NBA in that span.
- The Grizzlies are holding teams to 105.7 points per game in February (ranked third).
- Memphis has lost its last four games while allowing teams to shoot 39.8 percent from beyond the arc, even though it has limited opponents to only 27 attempts per game.
- Although the total has gone OVER in seven of the last 10 games in this matchup, the average combined score was 209.1 and in two games this season, the average final combined score was 203.
My Best Bet for Lakers vs Grizzlies
UNDER 220.5
I know the Lakers’ defense has been awful for most of the season but it takes two to get an OVER and I can’t see the Grizzlies putting up enough points to nail it. The Grizz defense has still been serviceable this season as they rank among the best in limiting opponent shot attempts but offensively, they rank among the worst in points per game. In fact, in the Grizzlies’ last 30 games, only three have ended up going OVER 220 points.
Everywhere you look on the matchup page, there are trends pointing to OVERs but none of the average combined scores add up near a total of 220.5. I thought the layup bet was to just take the Lakers to win and cover the spread but with the drama and turmoil spilling out to the media, I’m staying far away from spreads in this one.
