The 2021 NBA Playoffs are just around the corner, as the play-in tournament is coming to an end with the battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, so here’s the best Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors betting pick for Friday, May 21.
According to William Hill Sportsbook, the Warriors are 3.5-point home favorites with their moneyline odds at -165. The Grizzlies are +145 underdogs to win straight up, while the totals are set at 222.0 points.
The Grizzlies kept their season alive thanks to a solid defense
The Memphis Grizzlies barely outlasted the San Antonio Spurs in the first game of the Western Conference play-in tournament this past Wednesday, 100-96, failing to cover a 4.5-point spread on the home court. They played some good defense, holding the Spurs to just 35.1% shooting from the field while scoring 18 fast break points.
The Grizzlies nearly blew a 21-point lead, finishing with 44.4% shooting from the field and just 18 assists. Jonas Valanciunas led the way with a monster double-double of 23 points and 23 rebounds; Dillon Brooks had 24 points and seven boards, while Ja Morant added 20 points and six assists.
Memphis has won six of its last seven games overall, going 2-5 ATS in the process. The Grizzlies finished the regular season at the ninth spot in the West, posting the 15th-best offensive rating in the league (112.0 points per 100 possessions) along with the sixth-best defensive rating (111.0).
The Warriors need to forget a tough loss to the reigning champs
The Golden State Warriors missed an opportunity to clinch the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference last Wednesday, suffering a narrow 103-100 defeat at the Los Angeles Lakers. They battled bravely as 5-point road dogs, but LeBron James’ deep three with 58.2 seconds to go in the fourth quarter sent the Warriors to another play-in game.
Stephen Curry put on another brilliant performance and dropped 37 points on the Lakers while shooting 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. Andrew Wiggins added 21 points on 10-for-18 shooting, but the rest of the pack didn’t help a lot offensively, while Draymond Green missed all his five field-goal attempts.
The Dubs put an end to their six-game win streak, but they covered the spread in seven straight outings at any location. Golden State finished the regular season on a high note, securing the eighth spot one game ahead of the Grizzlies. The Warriors are tallying 111.1 points per 100 possessions (19th in the NBA) while surrendering 110.1 in a return (5th).
Trends:
Memphis:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
Golden State:
- 7-0 ATS in the last seven games overall
- 11-3 ATS in the last 14 home contests
The Warriors should win this battle on the home court, as Steph Curry will be fired up to show Ja Morant and his teammates that he’s a superstar in this league. Golden State beat Memphis 113-101 in their regular-season finale and Curry accounted for 46 points including nine 3-pointers.
Anyway, it was a tied game with just five minutes remaining on the clock, and I’m expecting a dramatic finish in this one. If you’re satisfied with -165 odds, go with the Warriors to win straight up.
Pick: Take Golden State Warriors -3.5 at -110
The Total:
The last six encounters between the Grizzlies and Warriors went in the under, and I’m sticking with this betting trend. All their three matchups this season produced fewer than 220 points in total. Also, the under is 7-1 in the Grizzlies’ previous eight games overall, so I’m not going to overthink this wager.
Of course, the Warriors play at the second-fastest pace in the league (102.2 possessions per 48 minutes), and Steph Curry can make it rain from downtown, but I’m expecting some aggressive defense on both sides.
Pick: Go under 222.0 points at -110