The 2021 NBA play-in tournament will begin on Tuesday, May 18 and run through Friday, May 21. The play-in tourney will decide the 7-8 seeds in each conference with seeds 7-10 competing over the week until the 2021 NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, May 22. In the first game from the Western Conference, the No. 9 seed Memphis Grizzlies will face the No. 10 seed San Antonio Spurs. Here’s everything we know so far, plus a preview for the game.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs play-in game time
The game will take place on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Grizzlies will host the Spurs and the game will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN.
Grizzlies vs. Spurs odds
Spread: Grizzlies -4
Over/Under: 222
Moneyline: SAS (+145), MEM (-177)
The Grizzlies lost a play-in game to the Portland Trail Blazers last season and missed out on the playoffs, and they could be a play-in casualty again this year. Ja Morant and Jonas Valanciunas have carried the team for most of the season, and Kyle Anderson had to step his game up while Jaren Jackson Jr. missed time because of the knee injury he suffered in the bubble. Memphis has plenty of talented, young players, but they might not have gotten enough time to gel before the playoffs.
The Spurs’ illustrious 22-year playoff streak came to an end in the bubble last year and they’re figuring out a rebuild. Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Lonnie Walker, and Keldon Johnson are building blocks for the future, but DeMar DeRozan is still running the show for now. Losing LaMarcus Aldridge hurt San Antonio’s already undersized frontcourt and White is out for the year with an ankle injury. The Spurs might not have enough in the tank to make a run with its current roster.
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