No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 7 Minnesota
Memphis and Minnesota are aiming to interrupt postseason streaks.
The Grizzlies haven’t made the second spherical of the NBA’s Western Convention playoffs since shedding within the semifinals in 2015. Memphis has misplaced within the first spherical thrice up to now six seasons and broke a three-year playoff drought by snagging the No. 8 seed a season in the past.
The Timberwolves’ streak is even longer. The No. 7 seed is again within the playoffs for the primary time since 2018 and hasn’t made the second spherical of the playoffs since 2004 when it misplaced within the Western Convention Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Memphis enters this collection as a giant favourite at -300 at BetMGM (Sport 1, 3:30 p,m. ET Saturday, ESPN). The Grizzlies have been simply the second-best staff within the convention over the course of the season and have been incredible with out star level guard Ja Morant. The Grizzlies went a staggering 20-5 with out Morant within the lineup.
Morant had been out since March 18 due to a sore knee however returned to the lineup on on April 9 for the penultimate recreation of the common season. He scored 21 factors in 27 minutes and appears able to go for the playoffs.
Minnesota is at +250 to win the collection after beating the Los Angeles Clippers in a play-in recreation on Tuesday night time. The Timberwolves beat the Clips regardless of Karl-Anthony Towns fouling out early within the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards had 30 factors in 37 minutes whereas DeAngelo Russell had 29.
Despite the fact that Minnesota’s a big underdog, this collection could possibly be probably the most enjoyable of the primary spherical. It’s not usually that you just get to see two younger and rising groups dealing with off within the playoffs and Morant, Cities and Edwards are positioning themselves as faces of the NBA for the subsequent decade.
Memphis can also be hoping that its most popular beginning lineup will gel rapidly regardless of getting little or no time collectively throughout the common season due to harm. The lineup of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane began simply 10 video games all season due to accidents. Now that everybody is wholesome, Memphis can hope to blitz Minnesota with that lineup and produce gamers like De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Brandon Clarke off the bench.
The collection end result with the bottom odds is a 4-2 Memphis win (or higher) at -125. The Grizzlies are +175 to win the collection 4-1 or 4-0 whereas Minnesota is +450 to win the collection at 4-2 or higher. A five-game collection both means is +220 whereas a six-game collection is at +230. A seven-game collection is the slight favourite at +200. We don’t suggest betting the collection over/below except you’re satisfied it’ll be a sweep. Over 4.5 video games is at -800 and below 4.5 video games is at +550.
A Grizzlies win in Sport 1 on the way in which to profitable the collection is at -175 whereas a Timberwolves Sport 1 win and a collection win is at +500.
