Memphis (1-2) at LA Lakers (2-1)
When: Monday, April 24th 2023
Where: Crypto.com Arena,
Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:00 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -4.5/220
Crypto.com Arena has been a busy place the last few days and the action continues on Monday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4 of their first round series. The arena has hosted either a Clippers, Kings or Lakers game every night since Thursday and Saturday’s Memphis/L.A. game was a no-doubter. The Lakers built a 35-9 lead after one quarter and ended up with a 111-101 victory to take a 2-1 series lead heading into Monday.
Los Angeles could be the most dangerous seven-seed we’ve seen in a long time, as both LeBron James and Anthony Davis are mostly healthy and playing together on a regular basis now. Since the middle of February, the Lakers are 20-8 and can put a stranglehold on the series with a win on Monday.
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Memphis’ Dillon Brooks might have put his team in a tough spot after taking a swat at James’ groin and getting ejected from the game just after halftime. Brooks, who is averaging 11.3 points in the series, could be suspended before tonight’s Game 4.
Saturday’s loss made Memphis 1-7 in their last eight games road games against the Lakers. The Grizz are just 2-6 ATS in their last overall, while the Lakers have won 7-of-8 home games. L.A. is a 4.5-point favorite in this contest with a total of 220.5.
Ja Morant returned for the Grizzlies after missing Game 2 and did his best to get his team back in the game. He finished with a game-high 45 points on 13-of-26 shooting and scored 22 straight for Memphis in the fourth quarter. But the game was well out of hand by then, as the Lakers led by as many as 22 early in the final period.
Morant added 13 assists, while Desmond Bane scored 18 points for Memphis, which shot 37.6 percent in the game and just 26.0 percent in the first half. The Grizzlies got little production from their bench, getting outscored 25-12 in that category.
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The two L.A. studs came up big in Game 3 with Davis scoring 31 points with 17 rebounds, while James provided the energy with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Davis and fellow big man Jarred Vanderbilt recorded three blocked shots apiece.
L.A. had five players score at least 13 points in the win, showing everyone that this team has plenty of depth behind Davis and James. Rui Hachimura put up 16 points off the bench in Game 3 after starting the series with 29 and 20 points in the first two games.
I think this series is over. L.A. has been one of the best teams in the league over the last two months and Memphis doesn’t have the depth to compete in this series. The Grizzlies are just 7-21 ATS in their last 28 road games against teams with a winning home record. I can see the Lakers getting off to another hot start and cruising to victory.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
Pick: Lakers -4.5
