The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors renew hostilities Friday with a clear set of stakes: Win, and you’re in the Western Conference playoffs. The Warriors are slight favorites for the rematch of a Sunday encounter that the Warriors won 113-101 behind 46 points from Steph Curry to earn a spot in the 7 vs 8 play-in game.
- Date/Time: May 21, 9 p.m. ET
- Arena: Chase Center
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Sportsbook Odds: Warriors -3.5 | O/U 222 (Line History)
- Grizzlies vs Warriors Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Warriors kicked off the betting cycle as 3.5-point favorites, the exact spread these teams saw when they met Sunday. The total for Friday’s rematch is set at 222, which is 6 points lower than their last encounter.
Memphis News & Notes
The Grizzlies did well to rebound from that demoralizing double-digit loss in San Francisco over the weekend, knocking off the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 in Wednesday's 9 vs 10 play-in game. Dillon Brooks’ 24 points were the difference for Memphis, which limited San Antonio to just over 35 percent shooting from the field while outscoring the Spurs 18-2 in fast-break points.
Next up: Figuring out how to keep Curry from lighting up the scoreboard. Curry sat out both ends of their home-and-home series in mid-March but made up for lost time in the regular-season finale after averaging just 22.3 points in his previous three games vs Memphis. On the plus side, Curry is shooting just 39.3 percent in their last four head-to-head meetings.
Golden State News & Notes
It took a highlight-reel three-pointer from LeBron James for the Los Angeles Lakers to finally put the Warriors away in Wednesday’s 7 vs 8 matchup – and the loss is a rough one for a Golden State team that played fantastic basketball. The Warriors shot better from 44 percent from long range while committing just eight turnovers in defeat, equaling a season low.
Look for the Warriors to use a similar game plan Friday to the one it employed in that pivotal Sunday victory – namely, leaning heavily on Curry while relentlessly challenging the Grizzlies’ three-point shooters. Memphis shot just 6-for-24 from beyond the arc in that defeat as the Warriors enjoyed a 45-18 advantage in three-point scoring that the Grizz simply couldn’t overcome.
Betting Pick: Warriors -3.5 (-110)
Golden State is built to make things difficult for Memphis – and while the Grizzlies have defended Curry well in recent meetings, he’s on a whole other level right now. We like the Warriors to cover here.
Want more Expert Betting Picks?
Check out the best sports handicapping services on the market today!
Buy Sports Picks Now- Golden State is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 home games vs Memphis.
- Memphis is 1-5 ATS in its past 6 games.
- The UNDER is 6-0 in the last 6 head-to-head meetings.
