Denver (33-15) at Memphis (20-30)
When: Monday, January 28th, 2019
Where: FedEx Forum,
Memphis, Tennessee
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: Altitude, FS Southeast
Opening Odds: Denver -5/208
The Memphis Grizzlies are buried near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and appear that they want to break up the team and start a rebuilding process. News came out recently that the Grizzlies are prepared to shop stars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, but neither player is willing to comment on the situation. Memphis will try to make it two consecutive wins on Monday when they host the 33-15 Denver Nuggets, who are leading the Northwest Division by 2.5 games over Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies were able to take advantage of the Victor Oladipo-less Indiana Pacers on Saturday to snap an eight game losing streak and will attempt to win consecutive games for the first time since Christmas. Memphis’ 106-103 victory over Indiana improved the team to 4-19 over its last 23 games, as they sit eight games out of the No. 8 spot in the West. Denver’s offense has heated up with wins in four of their last five games, scoring at least 124 points in each of the victories. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic recorded his seventh triple-double of the season with 32 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in a 126-110 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday. The teams split the first two matchups of the season, with Memphis earning an 89-87 home win on November 7th.
Jokic got an extra day’s rest before returning on Saturday as he was serving a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during the loss to Utah on Wednesday. The Nuggets did just fine without him, pummeling the last-place Phoenix Suns 132-95. Jokic has recorded at least a double-double in 12 of his 13 games this month. Eight players scored in double-digits while Jokic was out versus the Suns, proving that this Denver team is not completely one-dimensional. Point guard Gary Harris needs to break out of his shooting slump, as he’s just 3-of-14 from 3-point range over the last four games.
The Pacers didn’t have their top player, but the Grizzlies still did what they needed to do in order to stop the eight-game slide. Memphis held Indiana to just 42 first half points and 43.2 percent shooting overall while getting contributions from their star players. Conley and Gasol combined for 40 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds in the win while Jaren Jackson chipped in 20 points and six boards. The Grizzlies are actually No. 2 in the NBA in points allowed (104.0), but unfortunately, are dead least in points for (100.8).
Memphis is really struggling right now and I don’t think the win over Indiana is going to propel them to greatness. This Denver team is really good and it starts with Jokic. The Nuggets have not been very good on the road, but the Grizzlies have been even worse at home. I believe Denver can win and cover this relatively small spread.
Pick: Nuggets -5.5
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Nuggets are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS win.
- Nuggets are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Nuggets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Nuggets are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Southwest.
- Nuggets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.
- Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Grizzlies are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Grizzlies are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Grizzlies are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Grizzlies are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Grizzlies are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Grizzlies are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Grizzlies are 5-18 ATS in their last 23 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Grizzlies are 5-21 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
- Grizzlies are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 home games.
- Grizzlies are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Grizzlies are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Grizzlies are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
- Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 7-0 in Nuggets last 7 overall.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Nuggets last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 6-0 in Nuggets last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 6-0 in Nuggets last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Nuggets last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Nuggets last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Nuggets last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Over is 7-2 in Nuggets last 9 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 19-7 in Nuggets last 26 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Under is 8-1 in Grizzlies last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 10-2 in Grizzlies last 12 Monday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Grizzlies last 6 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Under is 8-2 in Grizzlies last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 20-6 in Grizzlies last 26 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 6-2 in Grizzlies last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 19-7 in Grizzlies last 26 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Grizzlies last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Grizzlies last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
- Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Memphis.
