Looking to even the series the No. 1 Golden State Warriors (5-2 SU, 2-5 ATS) take on the No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies (6-2 SU, 5-2-1 ATS) Monday in Game Four of their Western Conference semifinal. You can watch the game live on TNT.
Following Saturday’s 99-89 loss, their second straight in the series, the Warriors find themselves in unfamiliar territory heading into Game Four. Golden State won 67 regular season games and five straight to begin the playoffs, but now they NBA’s best team needs a win to avoid its first three-game losing skid this season and falling in a big hole in this series.
The Griz are on the verge of taking a commanding lead over the league’s best team and have been impenetrable defensively, shutting down the highest-scoring team in the league while cashing the under in all three games of the series. Memphis has used its second-ranked regular season scoring defense to allow fewer than 100 points six times in the postseason with the under going 6-2 in eight playoff games.
KEY INJURY
Warriors forward Marreese Speights will not play Monday due to a right calf strain that was revealed in an MRI taken Sunday. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game and Speights hopped to the sideline during a timeout and walked gingerly to the locker room. The Warriors say he will be reevaluated in a week.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I have to play better for us to win games, especially on the road. I hold myself to a high standard. I haven’t reached it yet. So looking forward to the challenge of getting to that level in Game Four, setting the tone and it could be a different outcome.” – Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
BETTING TRENDS
- Golden State is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games.
- Memphis is 8-2-1 in its last 11 games overall.
- The UNDER is 23-3 in Memphis’ last 26 home games.
KEY STATS
16: Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen had four steals Saturday giving him 16 in the past four games.
39: Memphis held Golden State to 39 first half points on Saturday for the second straight game. The Warriors had been held to fewer than 40 points in the first half only once during the regular season.
6: Golden State has made just 23.1 percent of its three-point shots, making six of 26 attempts, in each of the last two games, well below its season average of 39.8 percent.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Warriors haven’t resembled the club that averaged an NBA-high 110 points and shot a league-best 39.8 percent from three-point range during the regular season. They’ve scored 89.5 per game in their two losses while missing 20 of 26 from beyond the arc in each of the last two games. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have been hounded all series and the Warriors shot less than 44 percent overall in consecutive games for the just the second time all season. They’re also turning the ball over more frequently and now play a game they desperately need to win. “It’s not a must win, but it’s pretty freaking close,” Thompson said.
Is Mike Conley really the difference maker? Apparently he is after the Grizzlies manhandled the Warriors in two games since his return. Conley has scored and run the point effectively, but his defense, along with teammate Tony Allen, has been the biggest part of his game. The Griz have effectively shut down Golden State’s outside game allowing their big men to run amok underneath. Memphis is about the grind it out style and that’s what they’ve done in the last two games. They need to continue that style of play to take a commanding lead in the series.
The Warriors have been exposed with their outside shooting woes and the Grizzlies have taken advantage down low and with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The Griz are using their postseason experience to thoroughly handle the Warriors and it could get worse for the Dubs having to compete without Marreese Speights, who is out with a calf strain. The Warriors have had a tough enough time trying to control the paint and his loss makes the challenge that much more difficult. The Grizzlies can smell blood and the Warriors are in a situation they haven’t faced all season. Memphis will play its usual grinding style and frustrate the Warriors again to take a commanding lead in the series.
Memphis 101, Golden State 95
BookMaker will be the first sportsbook to send out the NBA odds for this game. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next half. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
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