Memphis Grizzlies vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview (2/2/23): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds
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Memphis hits the road once again when it travels to Cleveland in an attempt to end a five-game slide away from FedEx Forum. Check out our betting picks and best bets below, as well as updated injury reports and projected starting lineups for both teams.
Memphis Grizzlies Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Odds
The Memphis Grizzlies are 4.5-point road dogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. Memphis was able to deploy Danny Green in the rotation for the first time on Wednesday against Portland and he should be available for this game, too.
The Grizzlies will be without Steven Adams due to a PCL sprain in his knee that he recently suffered, while John Konchar is questionable despite clearing concussion protocol.
The Cavaliers will be without Dyland Windler, but every other rotational player should be available for this bout.
Memphis Grizzlies Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
It has been an exceptionally rough stretch for the Memphis Grizzlies, who are now under .500 against teams in the West, despite being second in the conference. Further, they have dropped five straight road games and six of their past seven total games after losing to the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers last night.
Sure, Damian Lillard went off for 42 points, despite only making 11 shots; however, the Blazers lost Jusuf Nurkic (first quarter) and Jerami Grant (halftime) in that game. The Grizzlies didn’t have much else that they needed to do except guard Lillard and score on a below-average defense.
Even more concerning is the fact that the Grizzlies scored just 112 points on 24% from three, despite the fact that the Blazers rank in the bottom ten in opponent 3P% (three-point percentage.)
Meanwhile, Cleveland has been one of the best home teams, boasting a 21-6 record, the fourth-best in the NBA. Still, the Cavs have dropped two of their past four home games to the Miami Heat, when they only scored 97 points, and to the Golden State Warriors, who were without Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green.
Cleveland’s recent performances at home give me a bit of a pause, but at the end of the day, there is no way I can back this Grizzlies team that has been abysmal in covering the spread on the road.
Betting Trends
- Memphis is 9-16-1 ATS on the road in 2022-23
- Cleveland is 17-9-1 ATS at home in 2022-23
- The combined over record of these two teams is 46-55-2 in 2022-23
Key Matchups
The key matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers will undoubtedly be Dillon Brooks versus Donovan Mitchell. Check out below which player will have a leg up on the other in this non-conference bout!
Dillon Brooks vs. Donovan Mitchell
Dillon Brooks is known as one of the league’s most antagonizing perimeter defenders; many players on the Grizzlies have called for him to be an NBA All-Defensive First Team. However, Brooks has gotten cooked a few times by opposing guards/forwards, with Damian Lillard being the most recent example. His individual defensive rating of 114.0 is not spectacular.
Donovan Mitchell didn’t play in the first matchup between these two teams, but Caris LeVert and Darius Garland scored 23 and 24 points, respectively. Even Isaac Okoro finished with 17 points against Memphis.
Mitchell had a 71-point game last month and has averaged roughly 28 points per game this season, so I can’t imagine that Brooks being a perimeter pest is going to bother him too much. He should go for 30-40 points in this matchup. Advantage: Mitchell.
Memphis Grizzlies Starting Lineup
PG: Ja Morant
SG: Desmond Bane
SF: Dillon Brooks
PF: Brandon Clarke
C: Jaren Jackson Jr
Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineups
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Isaac Okoro
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen
Key Injuries
Memphis Grizzlies Injuries: Steven Adams (Out), John Konchar (Q)
Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries: Dylan Windler (Out)
