In the last playoff game tonight in the Association, the No. 2 seed Grizzlies will square off against the No. 7 seed Lakers at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN) in Game 3. After losing by 16 points in Game 1, the Grizzlies picked up a 103-93 win in Game 2 earlier this week without Ja Morant.
Memphis realized they let Game 1 slip away and made sure to take care of business in Game 2. All five Grizz starters were in double figures, led by Xavier Tillman, who had a double-double consisting of 22 points and 13 rebounds. Tillman didn't do everything by himself as Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points and nine rebounds. Finally, Tyus Jones stepped in admirably for Morant, posting 10 rebounds, eight assists, and six rebounds. The Grizz hope to have Morant back for tonight's game, who is listed as "questionable" with right-hand soreness.
As for the Lakers, their offense took a step back as they only shot 26.9 percent from three-point range. LeBron James led Los Angeles with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. However, he was the only starter with at least 20 points (Anthony Davis -- 13, Austin Reaves -- 12, and D'Angelo Russell -- 5), which is not a recipe for success. But if you are a Lakers fan, you loved to see another great outing from Rui Hachimura, who had 20 points and five rebounds off the bench. If the Lakers want to win Game 3 and possibly take the series, they will need Hachimura to stay consistent.
Can the Grizzlies steal homecourt from the Lakers tonight, or will LeBron go off against Dillon Brooks and lead his team to a win? Below, we'll break down tonight's Grizzlies-Lakers matchup, giving our prediction and best bets for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
MORE ODDS: Spreads, moneylines, props, parlays -- get it all with BetMGM!
Grizzlies vs. Lakers odds, picks, predictions
- Spread: Grizzlies +5.5 (-120); Lakers -5.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: OVER 220.5 (-110); UNDER 220.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Grizzlies +170; Lakers -210
Even though the Lakers suffered a disappointing 10-point loss to the Grizzlies in Game 2, they are still a 5.5-point favorite heading into Game 3. If Morant is cleared to play, we could see the spread swing toward the Grizzlies' way.
However, the public likes the Lakers to win tonight as they are receiving 69 percent of the bets (63 bets of the handle) on the spread and an overwhelming 66 percent of the bets (84 percent of the handle) on the money line. The Lakers have handled their business at home, posting a 23-18 record during the regular season. That home success has carried over to the spread, where the Lakers are 21-18-3 against the spread (including the playoffs) but only 10-11-2 as home favorites.
Most basketball fans expect the Lakers to come out motivated, especially James, who heard Brooks talking trash about him after Game 2. Los Angeles has to set the tone immediately, which means getting the ball to James and Anthony Davis early and often. If those two guys are getting their looks and shots, it should open up opportunities for Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D' Angelo Russell, who is struggling to find his offense.
In Game 2, the Lakers had 13 turnovers, which doesn't seem like a lot compared to the Grizz (10). However, those 13 turnovers lead to 20 points for Memphis, which cannot happen in the playoffs. As for Memphis, they didn't do anything spectacular offensively, but they were getting production from everyone. The Grizzlies also defended the three-point line well, allowing the Lakers to shoot 26.9 percent, which is an improvement from Game 1 (43.2 percent).
Nevertheless, the Grizzlies are not great on the road, as they went 16-25 during the regular season. That lack of success away from the FedEx Forum showed itself on the spread as Memphis is 14-25-1 ATS and 2-12 ATS as road 'dogs. This is a stark contrast to the Lakers and is one of the reasons why we like them to win tonight. If there's no Morant again, it's tough to see the Grizz going on the road and stopping James, who will have his eyes deadset on Brooks.
Prediction: Lakers 110, Grizzlies 103. The Lakers (-5.5) cover the spread, with the game going UNDER the total (220.5)
Best player prop bet for Grizzlies vs. Lakers: Jaren Jackson Jr. OVER 2.5 blocks (+110)
Most bettors will be wagering on James' points prop in his duel against Brooks tonight. However, we will go against the grain and pivot towards Jackson Jr's blocks prop at plus money. The Grizzlies will be leaning on the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year to anchor the backend of their defense while also providing some offense.
In the first two games in this series, Jackson Jr. has recorded five blocks, with three coming in Memphis' Game 2 win. The defensive-minded power-forward has gone OVER 2.5 blocks in six out of his past 10 games and two of three regular-season matchups against the Lakers.
