Golden State Warriors-Memphis Grizzlies: Match Preview, Stats, & Much More | 8 May

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing and in the Western Conference, the Mavericks finally got a win to make a 1-2 series versus the Suns. On the other hand, the Golden State Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzlies in the closest and most exciting series that is tied at one each. Ja Morant put on a show in the last game and the Grizzlies closed out the Warriors 106:101. What kind of game will this be?

Handicap: Bookmakers from 22bet suggest that the Warriors are going to roll over the Grizzlies and have the odds of 1.35 to win this game while the Grizzlies have been given unlikely odds of 3.4. I do acknowledge that it is difficult to torch the Warriors on their home floor and we have seen so far that the team having the third game at home has come up strong. They give the favorable handicap of -7.0 to the Warriors but I believe that the Grizzlies will be giving a fierce fight here and I’d take them with a handicap of +6.5. (Handicap 2 +6.5 for 1.98)

Player Props: Bookmakers at bet365 predict odds of 2.05 for Ja Morant going Over 1.5 Steals here(At least 2 Steals). Athletic presence Ja has clinched 3 steals in each of the last two games and has done so in three of the last four games. I believe he will be active around the perimeter again and I believe he will go “over” here. (Player Props: Player Steals: Ja Morant Over 1.5 for 2.05)

Total: Bookmakers at 1xbet give the Total of 225.5(Over/Under) the equal odds of 1.97 which goes against how the last game went. The last match-up fetched 207 points but the first one saw teams pile up 233 points. I believe this series will once again see an increase in scoring and this will be a high-scoring game. That is why I believe the total will go “Over” here. (Total Over 225.5 for 1.97)

This game is available on the NBA League Pass.

As both squads like to play the up-tempo style and sometimes push the pace, the number of turnovers is going to be high in this series. Both teams turned it over collectively 32 times with the Warriors making 18 of them. The one area where the Grizzlies had the upper hand was the free-throw line, nailing 20 of their 21 attempts, meanwhile, the Warriors made 14 of 18. However, the biggest difference was surely Ja Morant, who has gotten the feel for the game and dropped a brilliant 47 points in the last game.

The Warriors’ strength is their three-point shooting and they shot just below 19% in the last game, making just 7 of their 38 attempts. On the other hand, the Grizzlies made twice the threes on 31%. The rebounding battle was almost even as the Warriors had 52 of them and the Grizzlies had 49. On the other hand, Klay Thompson and Desmond Bane once again were off the mark for the Warriors and Grizzlies respectively, and whenever one of them breaks out, that could as well decide the series.

But these stats ignore the picture of how close the game was for most parts. For the second time in a row, the battle went to the last few minutes and it took a late Ja Morant-led run for the Grizzlies to march on. This has been the most physical and intense series as expected and both teams are not giving any ground so far. Which team will break open first? Who will crack first? Will Thompson and Bane get going? Will the Warriors showcase a stellar performance at home and show the young Grizzlies how is it done in the Playoffs at the home floor?

• Grizzlies most likely starting five: PG: Ja Morant | SG: Desmond Bane | SF: Kyle Anderson | PF: Jaren Jackson Jr. | C: Xavier Tillman;
• Key Bench Player: Brandon Clarke, De’Anthony Melton, Tyus Jones;
• Warriors most likely starting five: PG: Stephen Curry | SG: Klay Thompson | SF: Andrew Wiggins | PF: Draymond Green | C: Kevon Looney;
• Key Bench Players: Jordan Poole, Otto Porter Jr.