Teams with some of the best young talent in the NBA have put on quite a show in their first-round playoff series. Ja Morant scored 30 points, including the game-winning bucket in the final seconds to put the Memphis Grizzlies on the verge of advancing to the next round with a 111-109 victory on Tuesday. The Griz look to finish off the Minnesota Timberwolves when the clubs convene for Game 6 on Friday. Despite being the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, Memphis has struggled in the series getting blown out in the opener with the last two games decided by a total of three points.
The NBA Playoff game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves will air live on ESPN with tip off at TBD on Friday, April 29, 2022 from Target Center in Minneapolis. BookMaker.eu will have betting options for every game on the NBA playoff schedule.
NBA Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Memphis Grizzlies +1
Minnesota Timberwolves -1
Total 228
Odds Analysis
We don’t really know what we’re going to get in this series. The first two games were double-digit laughers with each team grabbing a win. Three of the four regular season matchups were decided by eight points or less with the fourth a 43-point Minnesota victory. Maybe the teams are just playing playoff basketball with the past two games being nail-biters. Minnesota was 4-4 during the regular season in games decided by three points or less and they eked out a 119-118 win in Game 4 on Sunday to even the series. It helped that they attempted 15 more free throws and made 12 more than Memphis. They weren’t as fortunate in Game 5. Now with their backs against the wall we’ll see if the Wolves can come up with their best effort. The highest scoring team during the regular season, the Wolves reached their average score twice this postseason winning both games.
This series could be just what the Grizzlies need to get them prepped for the next round, assuming they make it that far. They had nothing to lose during the regular season and played like it – a group of young athletes doing their thing on the floor and beating up opponents. The playoffs are a different story and with increased expectations you get more pressure. They’ve been able to answer the bell so far in this series. Getting blown out at home in Game 1 was an eye-opener, but the Griz responded with a huge win to even the series. They followed a frustrating loss in Game 4 to take the series lead with a 111-109 win on Tuesday improving to 19-9 this season in games following a defeat.
Memphis Grizzlies
If the opening line holds the Griz will play as an underdog for the first time in the series. While they were one of the most profitable teams during the regular season going 52-29-1 ATS, they haven’t been as fortunate failing to cover the last two games and going 2-3 ATS. The Griz hit the board as a 1-point dog and they are 11-8-1 ATS when catching points on the road this season.
Things tend to tighten up in the playoffs and Memphis is experiencing that, especially Morant. He hasn’t scored as much as he did during the season and the Wolves are making it difficult for him to find his shot. He struggled for much of Game 5 but came alive in the fourth quarter to spark a comeback that included the game-winning layup.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The last time the Wolves were laying points to the Griz was back in November. The results were favorable in the Wolves 138-95 home victory; and there were no asterisks next to the final line. Many expected this to be a quick series, but Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell and Co. have other ideas. They probably feel like they let one get away on Tuesday after holding an 11-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Minnesota has played well defensively holding Morant in check for the most part. However, the Wolves haven’t generated the kind of offense we saw during the season. The highest scoring team is averaging about six points per game less in the playoffs and twice in this series the Wolves were held under 100 points. The total of 228 is the lowest in the series with the teams cashing the UNDER in three of the last four games.
Grizzlies at Timberwolves NBA Odds Pick
I feel as though the teams are ready to bust loose on Friday and with the total dropping this is a good time to nab the OVER. We’ve seen glimpses but both have been inconsistent shooting the ball and scoring consistently. And after Tuesday’s tough setback I’m not sure the Wolves can recover.
NBA Odds Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies +1 / OVER 228
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