Quietly, the Memphis Grizzlies are the hottest team in the league, and point guard Ja Morant has somehow taken a step back away from the spotlight, if it’s even possible for him. After the first five years of his promising career were marred by injury and off-the-court controversy, Morant has settled down and is reminding fans why he’s one of the most talented guards in basketball.
Even with Morant missing four games across the stretch with various ailments, Memphis has won nine of its last 10 games and is currently tied with the Houston Rockets for second in the Western Conference. During its current hot stretch, it has outscored opponents by 11.6 points per 100 possessions, the second-best net rating in that span behind only the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
Morant has been as explosive as ever, averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in 14 games played so far this season. Tonight, he’ll hope to continue his hot form against the 10-14 Brooklyn Nets at 8 p.m. ET.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Grizzlies (-500) are massive favorites and the point total is set to 228.5. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bet centered around the Grizzlies’ high flyer.
Best Ja Morant Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Ja Morant Double-Double (+170)
After entering the season with one of the league’s weakest rosters on paper, the Nets have been surprisingly competitive this season, with shooting guard Cam Thomas continuing his emergence as one of the league’s most dangerous microwave scorers and point guard Dennis Schroder demonstrating the kind of leadership that made him the captain of the German national team.
Still, while Brooklyn’s count statistics look good, its rate statistics are a lot worse, given that its offense plays at the league’s slowest pace. Meanwhile, Memphis, with 104.6 possessions per game, plays at its second-fastest. Ratcheting up the speed of the game will allow Morant to put up big counting statistics and perhaps entice the Nets into unnecessary defensive gambles. With a mostly healthy Grizzlies team around him — a rarity in Memphis — I like Morant to record his seventh double-double in 15 games this season.
Morant scoring double-digit points is a virtual given; he’s scored fewer than 10 points just eight times in his entire career. So, his double-double chances come down to whether or not he can rack up 10-plus assists on Friday night. The Nets are a favorable matchup, having allowed 26.6 assists per game to opposing players, the 11th-most of any team in basketball.
Morant has only put up a double-double in one of his last eight games, but with the Grizzlies well-rested and confident, I back that to change tonight.
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