8:10 pm
December 11

Rockets @ Grizzlies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Houston Rockets (8-17)

@ Memphis Grizzlies (15-11)

 

Current odds:

Houston Rockets: (+260)

Memphis Grizzlies: (-320)

 

• The line for this game is Memphis by 7.5 points.

• Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins had delivered the same sermon to the Grizzlies previously this season, but their performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday simply provided additional ammunition for his motivational speeches.

• The Grizzlies beat the visiting Lakers 108-95 and improved to 6-1 without dynamic point guard Ja Morant. Memphis has won those six games by an average margin of 23.7 points and again proved its potency despite being shorthanded, a Jenkins talking point.

• The Grizzlies will host the Houston Rockets on Saturday looking to continue their stellar play with Morant sidelined, and seeking to further confirm their status as a contender in the West. Defeating the Lakers offered another glimpse of where the Grizzlies are headed, but Jenkins won’t allow them to rest on their laurels despite what the victory may represent in the big picture.

• The Rockets saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end Friday at the hands of the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks, but Houston did not go down without a spirited effort. The Rockets led by as many as 10 points before succumbing late, as the Bucks limited Houston to 19 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 123-114 victory. With five players scoring in double figures, the Rockets gave the Bucks fits throughout the game, but when Milwaukee turned the screws defensively down the stretch, Houston couldn’t finish off the upset.

• The next step for the Rockets following their surprising winning streak remains to be seen. Houston did most of its damage against fellow non-contenders, but the Rockets did manage to defeat the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets along the way. The performance against the Bucks offered a clear view of what sincere effort and execution can yield, even in defeat.

• However, the Rockets expended a ton of effort stringing together seven consecutive wins and grinded throughout against the Bucks. They will be challenged to find more juice in Memphis.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Memphis Grizzlies
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