The Memphis Grizzlies will host a showdown against the Toronto Raptors at the FedExForum. Action starts at 8:00 pm ET on Friday, Apr. 1 and can be seen on FxS and SNT.
The Grizzlies are expecting a better outcome after their 109-105 loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday. Zach Randolph was the game’s leading scorer, contributing 26 points. The Raptors, meanwhile, are coming off a 105-97 win against the Hawks on Wednesday. DeMar DeRozan shot 9-for-16 and led in scoring with 26 points.
Ball control could weigh heavily in this showdown. Toronto commits the third-fewest errors in the league (turnover percentage of 12.7%), while Memphis’s disruptive defense forces the most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 16.2%).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Raptors won the first game 98-85. Kyle Lowry had a stellar game with 18 points, four rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two three-pointers.
The Grizzlies come into this game 41-34 Straight Up (SU) and 37-35-3 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 41-34 SU and 37-35-3 ATS against the Eastern Conference.
Across the court, the Raptors head into the game with records of 39-34-1 ATS and 50-24 SU. In Western Conference games, Toronto has gone 50-24 SU and 39-34-1 ATS. Toronto is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the league, converting .370 of their shots from three-point range. Shifting to the other side of the court, the Raptors allow just 98.5 points per game, ranking them fifth in the league. One advantage for the Raptors could be Memphis’s high fouls per game average of 22.4.
Toronto won the last meeting this season between these two teams, bringing the head-to-head record to an even 5-5 SU over the last 10 meetings. On the other hand, with a 6-3-1 record, the Raptors have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Tor
Notes
On average, Toronto scores 102.9 points per game (ranked 13th), while Memphis allows 100.8 points per game (ranked 10th).
Memphis ranks 18th in points allowed per home game (101.8 PPG), while Toronto ranks 15th in points per away game with 101.2.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Raptors are 39-4 on the season. When the Grizzlies score fewer than 100, they are a poor 10-24.
When allowing 100 or more points in a game, the Raptors are just 11-20 this season. Memphis is a dazzling 31-10 when registering triple digits.
The Grizzlies have a defensive rating of 105.5 (ranked 18th), while the Raptors rank fifth for their offensive rating of 108.1.
The Memphis Grizzlies average a field goal percentage of 44.2% this season. The Toronto Raptors are 21-18 when opponents have a FG% of 44.2% or greater.
On average, Memphis attempts 18.0 three pointers and Toronto attempts 23.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Grizzlies are 3-2 while the Raptors have a winning 19-11 record.
The Memphis Grizzlies, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.64, rank 13th in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors have a lower A/TO (1.54), ranking 20th.
Memphis ranks 28th in rebounds per game with 41.5, while Toronto ranks 18th with 43.4 per game.
The Toronto Raptors rank 18th in offensive rebounding, while the Memphis Grizzlies rank 30th in defensive rebounding.
Though Memphis is one of the best in the league in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TOV% of 16.2% (ranked first), Toronto has a superb 11-3 record SU when its TOV% is 16.2% or greater.
