8:05 pm
December 12

Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Portland Trail Blazers (15-12)

@ Memphis Grizzlies (15-11)

 

Current odds:

Portland Trail Blazers: (+135)

Memphis Grizzlies: (-155)

 

• The line for this game is Memphis by 3 points.

• The Portland Trail Blazers have dropped five straight road games to sabotage a strong start to the season. Portland aims to halt its poor play on the road when it visits the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers were 12-5 before the road woes began and have lost seven of their last 10 overall games after falling 111-103 at Houston on Tuesday. Damian Lillard scored 34 points against the Rockets for his fifth straight outing with 25 or more – a stretch during which he is averaging 31.4.

• Memphis has lost back-to-back contests and six of nine since also getting off to a strong 12-5 start. Mike Conley injured his left hamstring during Monday’s 105-99 loss to Denver but is expected to be in the lineup against Portland.

• Portland’s bench was a liability in Tuesday’s loss as it matched a season low for points as it was outscored 37-13 while being a collective 5-for-17 from the floor. “Our bench struggled to score the ball a little bit in both halves,” coach Terry Stotts told reporters. “Their bench, I think, was 15-for-22, so they really impacted the game on their offensive end.” Portland also committed twice as many turnovers (14-7) and watched Houston record a 22-8 advantage on fast-break points.

• Marc Gasol is in a five-game funk during which he is averaging 9.8 points on 17-of-54 shooting. He recorded just four points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 5 and again was in single digits against the Nuggets, registering seven while attempting only six shots. “We’ve got to get him involved,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters. “We need Marc to get double-figure shots every night. I have to do a better job of putting him in position where he can get his shots.”

• Trail Blazers SG CJ McCollum averaged 30.5 points as the team split four meetings with the Grizzlies last season.

• Memphis F JaMychal Green registered 13 points and 10 rebounds against the Nuggets for his second double-double of the season.

• Portland C Jusuf Nurkic, who recorded 15 points and 10 boards versus Houston, has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in each of his last four games.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Memphis Grizzlies
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