Things have not gone well for the Grizzlies so far. Between a 4-7 record and Ja Morant’s off-court feuding, Memphis looks far removed from a playoff-caliber squad. A victory tonight would help ease any concerns – but it won’t be easy. The Knicks are among the NBA’s best squads, with fans hoping for a run to the Finals.
Can New York get a win tonight against a desperate Western Conference foe. Below is my prediction and pick for Tuesday’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks.
The Knicks are 10.5-point favorites (-102) over the Grizzlies on DraftKings Sportsbook. New York is favored at -425 on the moneyline. The total is set at 231.5 points.
Grizzlies vs. Knicks prediction, preview
This is a battle between two clubs that are stylistically different. The Grizzlies play at the NBA’s sixth-fastest pace (102.2). In comparison, the Knicks operate at the fifth-slowest pace on offense (98.2). Morant leads Memphis in scoring (19.2 PPG), but he’s been wildly inefficient. The point guard is shooting just under 36% from the field, including a dismal 15% mark from three-point range. Unsurprisingly, the former All-Star has the team’s third-worst box plus/minus (-4.8).
Due in part to Morant, the Grizzlies are averaging the ninth-fewest points per game in basketball (113.7). They’ve also allowed the tenth-most points to their opponents (118.6). That’s a bad mix for any team, let alone one with locker room issues. Fortunately for Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. remains a two-way force. The big man has posted 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. On defense, he’s notched 1.5 blocks and 0.5 steals. JJJ has the potential to give New York center Karl-Anthony Towns some trouble.
The Knicks have been on a roll recently, winning their last four games. During that stretch, the team has scored an average of 129.5 points. Jalen Brunson remains one of the best players in basketball. This season, the All-NBA talent has posted 27.2 points and 6.2 assists per game. However, New York’s entire core has been terrific this season. Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges have combined for nearly 55 points per game.
One area where the ‘Bockers have been lacking is their perimeter defense. Opposing teams have knocked down a league-high 15.7 three-pointers per game vs. New York. The Grizzlies roster several terrific shooters, such as Cam Spencer (46% 3PT), Cedric Coward (44% 3PT) and Jackson Jr. (39% 3PT). Those three will need to find success from beyond the arc if Memphis is going to pull off an upset.
Grizzlies Knicks pick, best bet
The Knicks are the more talented team by just about every metric. However, their issues defending from deep are a major concern. The Grizzlies have knocked down at least 37% of all three-pointers over their past two outings. If that trend continues, Memphis can prevent this from becoming a blowout at Madison Square Garden.
