The Memphis Grizzlies have won six consecutive games, and Ja Morant has been instrumental in their success. Now, the Grizzlies face the Dallas Mavericks, who have won eight of their last nine games, in a pivotal NBA Cup matchup involving two of the league’s hottest teams.
Morant is coming off a 19-point, eight-assist performance in Memphis’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. He’s been effective all season, averaging 21.2 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. Facing a Mavericks squad with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both in the lineup, Morant’s explosiveness will be critical in keeping pace with the Mavericks’ high-powered offense.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Grizzlies are four-point underdogs against the Mavericks with +145 Moneyline odds. However, here is a Ja Morant prop that you should consider.
Best Ja Morant Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Ja Morant Over 20.5 Points (-115)
Morant has consistently performed well against the Mavericks, averaging 21.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in eight games vs. Dallas. He’s surpassed the 20.5-point mark in six of 11 games overall this season. Maintaining his typical production would put him over the betting line of 20.5 points.
No matter the opponent, Morant is going to use his athleticism to attack downhill and make plays in the paint. However, the injury report is critical to consider for this matchup. Naji Marshall has often been tasked with guarding top players throughout games, but he’s already ruled out due to illness. One of the Mavericks’ top rim protectors, Dereck Lively II, is questionable to play in what could be his second consecutive missed game due to a knee hyperextension. If Lively is ruled out, it will become much more difficult for Dallas to contain Morant in the half-court, which could become an issue for one of the league’s most productive lane penetrators.
Even if Lively plays, Morant appears to have an opportunity to attack the Mavericks’ pick-and-roll defense. While Dallas ranks ninth in the NBA in defensive rating, they’ve struggled to contain opposing ball handlers in pick-and-roll actions, giving up 0.966 points per possession (PPP). The only NBA team giving up more PPP in these situations is the Atlanta Hawks.
If Lively cannot play, Daniel Gafford would step into the starting role as he did in Portland during the Mavericks’ victory over the Trail Blazers earlier this week; however, it could become a real problem for Dallas if Dwight Powell or Maxi Kleber plays the five for a lengthy stretch in the middle of the game. Morant could take advantage of their lack of shot blockers on the court by dialing up his aggression attacking the paint for finishes or floaters.
The Mavericks have leaned on Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes to contain challenging assignments whenever Marshall is not on the floor this season. Grimes is a quicker athlete than Thompson, but any defender will naturally have a challenging time containing Morant. Dallas tends to switch more when Thompson is on the court to try to reduce disadvantages in pick-and-roll, enabling Morant to get aggressive in isolation, which he embraces.
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