Hornets at Grizzlies Betting Preview

• Memphis Battling Key Injuries
• Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball
• Last Five Games
• Hornets at Grizzlies Betting Prediction

The Charlotte Hornets (12-13) travel to Memphis for a game against the Grizzlies (9-10). This might be a matchup between two teams that are under .500 but it is a matchup between some great young players. 

For the next few years, the Hornets and Grizzlies should match up fairly well and bring some electrifying basketball. Look for Charlotte to get going early and not look back.

Memphis Battling Key Injuries

Right now the Memphis Grizzlies are without two of their most important backcourt players Brandon Clarke who has an injured calf and Jaren Jackson Jr. who is working his way back from a torn meniscus.

Clarke and Jackson Jr. are two of the Grizzlies’ biggest weapons both offensively and defensively that complement start point guard Ja Morant well. With Clarke out the Grizzlies is missing 13.3 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. It also does not help that the Grizzlies have a 3-7 record at home.

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Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball

Ja Morant and LaMelo Ball have the potential to be one of the best point guard matchups over the next decade. Ball is currently averaging 14.2 points per game, 6.2 assists per game, and 5.9 rebounds per game and is sneaking up to having similar averages with 2020 Rookie of the Year Ja Morant. 

Morant missed time after a gruesome ankle injury but is beginning to get back to who he is. In 11 games Morant is averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.4 assists per game. Expect this to be a great matchup of two of the best scoring and playmaking point guards the NBA has to offer. 

Last Five Games

Hornets (3-2)

The Charlotte Hornets are playing some of their best basketball of the season winning two in a row. You might think that 3-2 in the last five games isn’t the best, but when you take a look at who their opponents were you are quick to learn those two losses were to the Eastern Conference no. 1 seed Philadelphia 76ers and the Western Conference no. 1 seed Utah Jazz. I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over losses to two of the top teams in the league.

Memphis (1-4)

The Grizzlies are playing some of their worst basketball of the season and are currently on a four-game losing streak. I don’t see things getting too much better until Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. return from injury. 

Another thing to note is that both of these teams recently played the Houston Rockets. In the Grizzlies matchup against Houston, the Grizzlies lost 115-103. In the Hornets matchup against the Rockets, the Hornets won big, 119-94.

Key Injuries

Charlotte – Currently no players listed on the injury report

Memphis – forward Brandon Clarke – Out (calf)

Odds

Hornets +4 (-110) Moneyline (+155) Over/Under 226 (-110)

Grizzlies -4 (-110) Moneyline (-175) Over/Under 226 (-110)

Hornets at Grizzlies Betting Prediction: Hornets +4

When looking at this game I immediately thought that the Hornets would be the favorite. I do not understand at all why the Hornets are underdogs in this one. Charlotte has been putting up points as of late and with the emergence of LaMelo Ball’s playmaking skills, I believe that gives them the advantage over Memphis. 

If Brandon Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. were not inactive this might be a different story, but with two of the Grizzlies’ key players out and nobody hurt on the Hornets take the Hornets spread. Spread and Moneyline are rather comparable so take the points just in case Memphis squeezes this one out. Ultimately, I see the Hornets winning this one favorably easily. Hornets +4.