The Salt Lake City Summer League wraps up Tuesday night with the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Memphis Grizzlies at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Both teams are 1-1 in Salt Lake City, but they have arrived there in different ways. Atlanta lost a 103-102 overtime game to the Utah Jazz before rallying from a slow start to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 82-77, while Memphis opened with a dominant 111-74 win over Oklahoma City before falling 109-100 to Utah on Monday night.
The Grizzlies are 3.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with the total for this game set at 179.5 points.
Hawks at Grizzlies prediction, preview
Summer League betting always comes with some lineup risk, especially with Las Vegas Summer League starting later this week, but the Grizzlies still look like the better side here. Memphis already ruled out Karim López and Walter Clayton Jr. for the Salt Lake City slate, but Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Javon Small, Carson Cooper and Jahmai Mashack have all played meaningful roles through two games. That matters in this spot because Memphis has not been built around one prospect carrying every possession. The Grizzlies have had several players capable of initiating offense, attacking mismatches and keeping the ball moving.
The Hawks have been competitive behind their young core, but their offense has had to work harder. Kingston Flemings, Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor headline Atlanta’s Summer League group, and Ejiofor was the story of Monday’s win with a massive double double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and three treys against Oklahoma City. Flemings has also flashed real playmaking feel, averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 assists through two Salt Lake City games. Still, Atlanta scored 82 points against Oklahoma City and had to overcome a 26-11 first-quarter deficit, which is not an ideal profile against a Memphis team that has shown a much higher scoring ceiling.
Memphis has been the more reliable offensive team. The Grizzlies scored 111 points in their opener, getting 17 points from Prosper, 15 from Boozer, 15 from Taylor Hendricks, 12 from Mashack and 11 apiece from Coward, Small, and Cooper. Even in Monday’s loss to Utah, Memphis still scored 100 points, with Coward leading the team with 23 points, Boozer posting 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Prosper adding another 16 points. Through two games, Memphis is averaging 105.5 PPG, compared to Atlanta’s 92.0 PPG.
The matchup also favors Memphis’ physicality. Atlanta’s best work has come from Ejiofor on the glass and Flemings as a downhill playmaker, but the Hawks were still exposed inside by Utah in their opener. The Jazz shot 55.6% from the field and outscored Atlanta 60-36 in points in the paint, even as the Hawks stayed close by forcing turnovers. Memphis has the personnel to test that same area with Boozer, Prosper, Cooper and Hendricks.
Atlanta’s defense has been solid, though. The Hawks had nine steals and six blocks in Monday’s win over Oklahoma City. But Memphis can match that production on the other side with their offense. Coward is averaging 17.0 points through two games after a productive regular season last year, while Boozer and Prosper are both at 16.5 PPG, and Small is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 assists. That balance is the biggest reason to lay the short number rather than rely on the Moneyline. Memphis has multiple paths towards reliable offense.
Bucks at Kings pick, best Bet
Best Bet: Sacramento Kings Moneyline (-218)
The rest spot is not perfect, since both teams played Monday and Memphis had the later game. But that concern is already baked into a manageable spread. The Grizzlies have been the better offensive team, have more functional size and have already shown they can separate from an overmatched opponent when the game gets loose. Atlanta’s young core is interesting, and Ejiofor’s rebounding gives the Hawks a real floor, but Memphis’ depth and shot creation make it the better bet to close out Salt Lake City with a win and cover.
