A meeting between two former NBA Canadian cousins takes centre stage on Sunday afternoon as the Memphis Grizzlies look to extend their lead in the race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and the Toronto Raptors try to bounce back from their first loss of the NBA restart.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Grizzlies entered the NBA bubble with a three-game lead on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but four straight setbacks put their playoff hopes in danger. Memphis won 121-92 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday to stop the bleeding.

The club holds a one-game edge over the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth seed, but it seems pretty clear Memphis will be playing the Blazers in a play-in series. The Grizz are a young and exciting team, but they’d most likely be an underdog against Damian Lillard and the Blazers.

Memphis’ schedule is brutal in its final three seeding games. The side plays the Celtics and Bucks after Sunday’s game against the Raptors. The Raptors, Celtics and Bucks are a combined 150-56 this season and firmly hold the top three positions in the Eastern Conference.

The Grizzlies are 1-4 straight up and against the spread since returning to action on the hardwood. They’re also 0-6 ATS in their last six games against Toronto.

The Raptors come into this contest on the heels of a blowout loss to the Celtics on Friday night. The Dinos looked de-clawed as they made just 26 percent of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc. The club doesn’t have much to play for in its final four games. Despite the setback to Boston, the Drakes are unlikely to be caught for the second seed in the East.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are playing with house money right now. No one expected the side to compete for a playoff a year after finishing fourth last in the West. But a turbocharged campaign from rookie phenom Ja Morant put the franchise in the hunt.

An injury to big man Jaren Jackson Jr. has tempted hopes of pulling off any kind of miracles in the postseason. Jackson Jr., second in scoring on the team at 17.4 per game, is out for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn meniscus earlier this week.

Toronto Raptors

Raptor fans have to be worried about a potential matchup against the C’s in the playoffs. Boston capped off the season series with a win on Friday to improve to 3-1 against the defending champions.

Toronto began the fourth quarter of Friday’s game down by 34 points. Scoring points has become too difficult for Nick Nurse’s squad in the bubble. In four games since the restart, the Raptors are scoring just 102.4 points per 100 possessions.

Who Will Win Grizzlies vs. Raptors?

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

Toronto

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 21 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Mon Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Paul Watson (SG)

Doub Sun Back - 09 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sun Eye - 08 / 08 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Oshae Brissett (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 31 / 07 / 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.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
Ibaka is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to play against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 21 / 08 / 20	4-5	2-7	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson is bothered by swelling in his left knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	6-6	5-7	+ -
VanVleet will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Nuggets on Friday.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with with soreness in his right knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
Ibaka is bothered by a right knee contusion, but he is expected to play against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
VanVleet missed the last game due to a hyperextended right knee, but he is likely to be available for Wednesday's contest against the 76ers.
Paul Watson (SG)	Doub Sun	Back - 09 / 08 / 20	8-7	5-10	+ -
Watson is dealing with soreness in his lower back, and he is not expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sun	Eye - 08 / 08 / 20	9-7	5-11	+ -
Ibaka was forced from the previous game due to an eye laceration, but he is likely to be active Sunday versus the Grizzlies.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson exited Saturday's game with an ankle injury, and his return is in question.
Oshae Brissett (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 31 / 07 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Brissett is expected to be sideline for an extended period due to right knee surgery in order to remove loose bodies.