NBA

Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies odds, picks and prediction

USA Today Sportsbookwire

The Los Angeles Lakers (17-18) hook up with the Memphis Grizzlies (21-14) Wednesday for an 8 p.m. ET game at the FedExForum. Below, we look at the Lakers vs. Grizzlies odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

L.A. snapped its five-game losing skid last night (Tuesday) by beating the Houston Rockets 132-123 as 6-point road favorites.

Over the past two weeks, the Lakers are 2-5 straight-up (SU), 2-5 ATS and 4-3 O/U with the 25th-ranked adjusted net rating at minus-9.0 points per 100 possessions (CTG).

Memphis has won back-to-back road games at the Sacramento Kings 127-102 Sunday and at the Phoenix Suns 114-113 Monday.

In the last 14 days, the Grizzlies are 4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS and 4-3 O/U with the eighth-best adjusted net rating at plus-5.3 points per 100 possessions (CTG).

These teams are tied 1-1 in their regular-season series heading into the rubber match but the Grizzlies covered both meetings.

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Lakers at Grizzlies odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:50 p.m. ET.

Money line: Lakers +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Grizzlies -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Lakers +5.5 (-108) | Grizzlies -5.5 (-112)
Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)

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Lakers at Grizzlies key injuries

Lakers

PF Anthony Davis (knee) out

Grizzlies

SG Dillon Brooks (health and safety protocols) out
SG De'Anthony Melton (health and safety protocols) out
SG John Konchar (health and safety protocols) out

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Lakers at Grizzlies odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Grizzlies 120, Lakers 109

Money line

PASS because I'm confident enough in Memphis that I'll just lay the points instead of pay the extra vigorish with the Grizzlies (-240).

Against the spread

GIMME 1.25 units on the GRIZZLIES -5.5 (-112) for a bevy of reasons. First of all, Memphis performs well vs. teams playing the second of a back-to-back.

For instance, the Grizzlies are 5-3 SU vs. teams on zero days rest with the sixth-best adjusted net rating at plus-12.1 points per 100 possessions and the fifth-best ATS margin at plus-5.9 (CTG).

Also, there are a couple of strength-on-weakness edges in Memphis's favor such as in the ball security and rebounding departments.

In fact, the Grizzlies score the fifth-most points off turnovers per game while the Lakers allow the fifth-most points off of turnovers per game.

Furthermore, Memphis scores the most second-chance points per game whereas L.A. is 21st in second-chance points allowed per game.

Lastly, there's been a sharp line move in Memphis's direction since the Grizzlies opened as 5-point favorites but have been steamed up to the current number.

The bottom line is the GRIZZLIES -5.5 (-112) have a variety of ways to beat teams whereas the Lakers +5.5 (-108) really only have LeBron James getting empty stats.

Over/Under

Slight "LEAN" to the OVER 225.5 (-115) for a tiny wager, if at all, because both teams get out in transition, and the Over has been hit by sharp money hence the total being increased from the 226-point opener.

In addition, the Over has cashed in three straight Memphis games, L.A. has gone Over the total in four of the past five games, and the Over is 2-1 in the last three Lakers-Grizzlies games.

That said, a vast majority of the market is betting the Over for this game as well, and I hate following a crowd of people in sports betting.

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