The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the more pleasant surprises of the past six weeks in the NBA, but the Los Angeles Lakers have risen to the top of the Western Conference. One team is playing for a playoff berth, the other for an NBA championship.

As the Grizzlies start the post-All-Star break portion of the season on a West Coast road trip, are they going to be able to withstand the rested Lakers?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Grizzlies find themselves in a back-to-back spot after losing in Sacramento last night. They’ve done okay in this series, winning four of the last nine meetings overall while covering five of those games. However, they are 10-5 ATS this season when on the road with a total of 230 or higher.

As for the Lakers, they’ve done most of their damage against bad teams as they’re just 13-9 straight up against winning teams and 12-10 against the spread. However, they are 9-2 SU after giving up 115 points or more as they did in their last game and are 6-5 ATS in those contests.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies were 13-21 and going nowhere when 2019 ended. However, since last year’s trade deadline, they started to have an eye towards collecting young assets and turning things around. The drafting of rookie guard Ja Morant has been one of the key catalysts to turn things around for a fledgling franchise. They’re now one of the most exciting teams in the NBA.

Since their first game in the new year on January 2^nd, the Grizzlies have gone 15-6 to move to 28-27 overall and into a playoff position in the Western Conference. They are no joke.

The source of the Grizzlies’ rise is that everyone is contributing. Sure, Morant is the NBA’s Rookie of the Year frontrunner with a team-best 17.6 points per game but Jaren Jackson Jr. averages 17.1, Dillon Brooks is at 15.7 and Jonas Valanciunas is at 14.9. Even rookie Brandon Clarke is chipping in 12.3 per game. Balanced production throughout the lineup is propelling a team which is learning how to play together.

Los Angeles Lakers

While the Grizzlies have some balance, the Lakers are being carried by their two superstars. Anthony Davis is averaging about 27 points and nine rebounds per game, putting himself into the NBA MVP conversation while LeBron James has the better MVP argument, given the way he is getting teammates involved and making them better. LeBron is averaging 25 points and eight rebounds, but the real eye-popper is the 11 assists, spreading the wealth and making the Lakers hard to guard. Having LeBron to distribute the ball is making spot-up shooters such as Kyle Kuzma and Danny Green even more effective.

How much are Davis and James carrying the Lakers right now? The last time a player other than Davis or James led the Lakers in scoring in a given game was January 20^th. Only three times since Dec. 28 has a non-Davis, non-James player led the Lakers in scoring for a game.

The Lakers won nine games in a row in early January but then split their next 10 games. After that rough 10-game sequence, L.A. won its last three games before the All-Star break, though two of those wins were against lottery teams, Phoenix and Golden State.

Who Will Win Grizzlies vs. Lakers?

Injuries

Memphis

Tyus Jones (PG)

Late Aug Knee - 29 / 07 / 20

Justise Winslow (SF)

out for season Hip - 21 / 07 / 20

Dillon Brooks (SG)

Prob Fri Groin - 11 / 03 / 20

Jontay Porter (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 10 / 03 / 20

Jordan Bell (PF)

Prob Thurs Acquired - 07 / 02 / 20

Gorgui Dieng (C)

Prob Wed Acquired - 07 / 02 / 20

Bruno Caboclo (SF)

Late Feb Knee - 06 / 02 / 20

Andre Iguodala (SG)

Mid Feb Personal - 06 / 02 / 20

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 02 / 20

Justise Winslow (SF)

day-to-day Back - 06 / 02 / 20

L.A. Lakers

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20

Injuries

Memphis

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyus Jones (PG)	Late Aug	Knee - 29 / 07 / 20	2-6	2-6	+ -
Jones is hampered by right knee soreness, and he is expected to be out of action until at least the end of August.
Justise Winslow (SF)	out for season	Hip - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Winslow has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to left hip displacement.
Dillon Brooks (SG)	Prob Fri	Groin - 11 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Brooks is nursing a sore left groin, but he is likely to play against the Trail Blazers on Friday.
Jontay Porter (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 10 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Porter is on the mend from surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. He is expected to return to the lineup Sunday against the Spurs.
Jordan Bell (PF)	Prob Thurs	Acquired - 07 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Bell was recently acquired through a trade, but he is expected to make his team debut Thursday against the Kings.
Gorgui Dieng (C)	Prob Wed	Acquired - 07 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Dieng was recently acquired via trade, but he is expected to make his team debut against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Bruno Caboclo (SF)	Late Feb	Knee - 06 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Caboclo is sidelined due to a hyperextended left knee, and he is expected to be out until the end of February.
Andre Iguodala (SG)	Mid Feb	Personal - 06 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Iguodala has been recently acquired via trade, and it is unknown if he will make his team debut during the middle of February after sitting out all season.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Valanciunas is nursing a sore left ankle, but it is expected he will suit up against the 76ers on Friday.
Justise Winslow (SF)	day-to-day	Back - 06 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Winslow is sidelined with a bone bruise in his lower back, and it is uncertain if he will return to the lineup when the league ends its hiatus.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 11 / 10 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 05 / 10 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 03 / 10 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Finger - 26 / 09 / 20	2-4	4-3	+ -
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20	2-5	5-3	+ -
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 19 / 09 / 20	4-6	6-5	+ -
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.