Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers 10/24/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers Matchup Preview (10/24/21)

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will take a trip to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers in Staples Center. Morant and company are fresh off a high-scoring bout against the Cleveland Cavaliers: the final score was 132-121. While Memphis handled Cleveland in the end, it is interesting to see the Grizzlies allowing a Cavs team that finished last season as the lowest-scoring team in the NBA to drop 121 points on them. Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled in their first game outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who combined for a solid 67 points. Westbrook had a poor shooting night and did not provide much of anything, so he will be looking to put together a much better performance against the Grizzlies.

For Los Angeles to win at home against the Grizzlies, it will need to dominate the boards and contain Ja Morant. The Lakers will want to force the other Memphis players to score instead of Morant. The Grizzlies getting a road win would mean that they did an excellent job slowing down Anthony Davis and LeBron James and played much stingier defense than they did in their first game.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds

At the time of writing this article, the lines have not been made available. Check with your sportsbook of choice to see what is available for you. The Lakers will certainly be home favorites, but it is uncertain by how many points. If the spread gets too wide, I like the Grizzlies to cover as they are healthy and can put points on the board. They were a playoff team last year and should be even better this year if they stay healthy. The point total could be another interesting bet as Memphis put up a ton of points in its first game.

Memphis finished 15-10 last season against the spread as an away underdog, fifth-best in the NBA. The Grizzlies’ away record was 22-18 as well. Meanwhile, the Lakers finished the season with a 23-17 home record and a 13-20 record against the spread as a home favorite.

I am leaning towards the over for the point total as long as it is around 225-ish or better. Memphis put up 132 in its first game while giving up 121 to Cleveland, an awful offensive team. If the Grizzlies decide to try and push the pace, the Lakers should have no problem keeping up with them.

TV Schedule

Date: 10/24/21
Time: 9:30 PM ET
Arena: Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
Channel: NBA League Pass

Live Stream Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers Free Online: Watch Every NBA Game

You can stream this game online for free. You can get a free 7-day trial and live stream NBA games from any device. Click the banner below and start watching.

Memphis Grizzlies Starting Lineup

PG: Ja Morant
SG: D’Andre Melton
SF: Desmond Bane
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr
C: Jonas Valanciunas

Memphis Grizzlies Analysis

In the past few years, Memphis has had quite a turnaround after it went from winning merely 22 games in 2017-18 to making the playoffs after a play-in win against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors last season. Ja Morant has completely reshaped this franchise, and Memphis has been able to sprinkle plenty of talent around him in the past couple of years. If Memphis can keep Jaren Jackson Jr, Dillon Brooks, and Desmond Bane healthy, another playoff appearance could be in the cards. Now that Bane is in the lineup, hopefully, the Grizzlies’ three-point percentage can increase as last season they ranked 20th in the NBA in that category.

Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Kent Bazemore
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Deandre Jordan

Los Angeles Lakers Analysis

Los Angeles has a lot that it still needs to figure out after dropping every preseason game and its home opener against the Golden State Warriors. There were still some positive moments during that game, especially seeing LeBron James dominate how he did at age 36. He and Anthony Davis scored 67 of their team’s points, but the rest of the players disappeared. The Lakers have the potential to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Still, their first priority should be establishing player roles and figuring out where Russell Westbrook fits into that formula. Westbrook’s first game as a Laker could not have gone much worse. Still, he can be a very effective player for them if he finds out exactly what the team needs from him. Offensively, Los Angeles was not too bad, shooting 47.4% from the field. If the Lakers contain Morant and shoot it well, they should win this game.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers Daily Fantasy Picks

Ja Morant looks like a man on a mission, scoring 37 points, dishing six assists, and securing six rebounds in his 2021-22 season debut. Morant shot 29 times, which is a positive sign for fantasy managers who have him on their team. Memphis has several young, talented players on its team, but Morant should have the keys to the offense after his playoff performance last season. He should still be cheaper than Anthony Davis or LeBron James but should have a similar output with a higher ceiling. The Lakers have a terrific defense, but they shouldn’t double hard off of ball screens against Morant. When Ja can go downhill and score, pass, or draw a foul, good things happen for Memphis.

If you can’t afford Morant or want to look at alternative options, look no further than Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies are extremely high on Bane, and it is no secret why that is the case. Bane shot 43% from behind the arc in his rookie season and already appears to be an elite shooter. His silky smooth stroke and effortless jump shot make him a scoring threat from anywhere 35 feet and inside. Additionally, he handles the ball well and has tremendous upper body strength, making it harder for guards to keep him out of the paint. Bane could average close to 20 points per game in just his second year, so keep an eye out. If his value is reasonable, jump all over him.