The Memphis Grizzlies welcome the Denver Nuggets to the FedExForum. Action begins at 8:00 pm ET on Friday, Jan. 8 and can be seen on AL2 and FxS.
The Grizzlies are expecting a better outcome after their 112-94 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. Mario Chalmers was the team’s leading scorer with 23 points. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are coming off a 78-74 win against the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Danilo Gallinari was the game’s top scorer, registering 20 points on 6-for-15 shooting.
The Grizzlies have gone 19-18 Straight Up (SU) and 16-20-1 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 11-11 SU and 10-12 ATS against the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are one of the best in the NBA in terms of free throws made, making an impressive 19.0 per game. Not making mistakes with the ball is a staple of Memphis’s offense, which averages just 12.6 turnovers per game.
In the other locker room, the Nuggets have a record of 16-17-3 ATS and 13-23 SU. Despite having a losing record against the Western Conference, Denver is successful ATS in those games with a record of 10-6.
The conference foes will be squaring off for the first time this season. In their previous head-to-head meeting, Memphis came out on top, bumping its SU record to 6-4 over the Nuggets in their last 10 meetings. With a 6-4 record, the Nuggets have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Mem
Notes
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Memphis’s last 11 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis’s last 6 games at home.
Memphis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Memphis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Denver.
Memphis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Denver.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis’s last 5 games when playing Denver.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis’s last 6 games when playing at home against Denver.
Memphis ranks 29th in points per game with 96.0, while Denver ranks 22nd in points allowed with an average of 103.4 given up.
On average, Memphis puts up 98.1 points per home game (ranked 26th), while Denver gives up 102.3 points per away game (ranked 16th).
The Memphis Grizzlies lost their last game by 18 points. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, the Denver Nuggets are 1-3. Memphis is 0-7 in blowouts this season.
When Denver gives up fewer than 100 points, it has a losing 5-9 record this season. Memphis also has an underachieving record when it scores fewer than 100 (7-17).
When allowing 100 or more points in a game, the Nuggets are just 8-14 this season. Memphis is an exceptional 12-1 when registering triple digits.
The Nuggets have an offensive rating of 101.6 (ranked 22nd), while the Grizzlies rank 16th for their defensive rating of 103.1.
The Memphis Grizzlies average a field goal percentage of 43.2% this season. The Denver Nuggets have an abysmal record of 6-19 when opponents have a FG% of 43.2% or greater.
On average, the Memphis Grizzlies attempt 17.0 three point field goals per game and the Denver Nuggets attempt 24.0 per game. In games where they attempt at least 25 threes, both teams have poor records; Denver is 7-11 while Memphis is winless (0-1).
Memphis has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.66 this season (ranked seventh), while Denver ranks lower at 14th with an A/TO of 1.58.
Memphis ranks 27th in rebounds per game with 41.2, while Denver ranks 10th with 44.4 per game.
Memphis ranks 28th in defensive rebounds, while Denver ranks third in offensive rebounds.
Memphis is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 17.0% (ranked first). Denver has a poor record of 3-7 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 17.0% or greater.
