[3:30 PM] Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Portland Trail Blazers (3-3)

@ Memphis Grizzlies (3-3)

 

Current odds:

Portland Trail Blazers: (-125)

Memphis Grizzlies: (+105)

 

• ESPN simulations have Portland as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Memphis to win as (TBD) favorites.

• The line for this game is Portland by 2 points.

• The hiring of coach David Fizdale was supposed to usher in a new offensive philosophy and higher point totals for the traditionally defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies. The team is still struggling to get the pace up on a consistent basis and will try to nudge its point total out of the 80s when the Grizzlies host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

• Portland’s defense was improved on Friday, but the highlights were still provided by point guard Damian Lillard on offense. The self-appointed MVP candidate scored a season-high 42 points on 12-of-18 shooting and is averaging 34.2 while draining 52.3 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. Lillard, who struggled to 22 points on 39.1 percent shooting in four games against Memphis last season, also chopped his turnovers down of late – committing a total of four in the last three games.

• Memphis has its own franchise point guard in Conley, who became the highest-paid player in the NBA over the summer and is doing his part to lift the team out of its offensive slump. Conley went 7-of-11 from 3-point range en route to a season-high 30 points on Friday and added 10 assists in the setback. Conley also did not commit any of his team’s 19 turnovers, which led to 30 points, after committing at least four in each of his previous three games.

• Grizzlies SF Chandler Parsons (knee) could make his team debut on Tuesday.

• Trail Blazers G/F Evan Turner went 1-of-8 from the field on Friday after connecting on 15-of-24 in the previous three games.

• The teams split four meetings last season, capped by Portland’s 112-106 overtime win in Memphis on Feb. 8.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Memphis Grizzlies

Confidence: 5/10

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