EDITORS NOTE: Ja Morant has been ruled OUT for tonight’s matchup with the Heat due to a shoulder injury.
Tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET, the Memphis Grizzlies host the Miami Heat who enter this matchup on a six-game losing streak. Ja Morant and company will be looking to pile onto this as these teams face off for the first time this season.
Memphis should feel great about their outlook as they sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 42-25 record. They’ve gotten here even despite inconsistencies in Ja Morant’s availability and level of play when he has been on the floor.
The Murray State product has suited up for just 43 games so far. Morant is averaging 22.3 points, his fewest since the 2019-20 season, along with 7.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. While these numbers still pop by the standard of most players, Memphis needs Morant to play like a superstar consistently if they are to reach their peak.
It should also be noted Morant remains questionable for tonight’s matchup with the Heat due to right shoulder soreness. He has played through the issue for a few weeks now and is coming off a 44-point, seven-assist, eight-rebound eruption against the Cleveland Cavaliers last night.
While Morant’s status may change the odds, the Grizzlies are currently listed as seven-point favorites and -270 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Heat hold +220 odds on the Moneyline with the game total set at 225.5.
Best Ja Morant Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Ja Morant’s props are listed at over/under 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.5 made three-pointers and 35.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Ja Morant Over 7.5 Assists (+105)
At his best, Ja Morant is consistently attacking the rim and providing rim pressure on the offensive end. His 16.8 drives per game rank sixth in the NBA with there still no clear answer for his combination of athleticism and skill. Morant’s first step and ability to explode at the rim open up everything in his game and create passing lanes for others. On the season, Morant is averaging 7.4 assists and has tallied over 7.5 assists in 18 of the 43 games he has played.
The Miami Heat have hung their hat on the defensive end for several years, but have been underwhelming this season. They rank seventh in opponent points allowed, 16th in opponent assists, and rank 12th in opponent field goal percentage allowed. They rank 13th in points in the paint allowed, which indicates these paint drives are available.
James Harden carved up this Heat defense for 11 assists earlier this week. While Morant is not the caliber of playmaker Harden is, expect a similar plan of attack of spreading the floor, attacking, and spraying the ball to shooters. Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, and Jaylen Wells are capable and willing shooters who will leap at these opportunities.
Especially with his shoulder soreness noted and 29.1% three-point shooting in mind, expect Morant to keep his focus on attacking to create for others. He has not found his peak level of play this season, but last night’s 44-point eruption is a great point to build off. The Heat have looked lifeless of late, so expect Morant’s pop of athleticism to be a problem throughout the matchup. Count on the rest of the Grizzlies team to capitalize on the looks the star guard creates. Bettors should take advantage of the +105 odds for Morant to record over 7.5 assists for the 19th time this season.
