Warriors Looking to Claim First Two Games
The Golden State Warriors got the better of the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening game of their series, winning 117-116 in what was a sloppy ending for them.
Draymond Green was ejected early on in the game and Klay Thompson missed two critical free throws at the end, which could have given them more cushion.
At the end of the day, Ja Morant couldn’t come away with the game-winning basket. With Golden State playing a second game on the road, they could go up 2-0 in this series. Are they the right choice for NBA game betting purposes here?
Let’s check the latest NBA Picks, stats, injury reports, and NBA Odds for Warriors vs Grizzlies. We’ve plenty of NBA Playoffs Odds for you to consider.
Warriors Have Stuff to Clean Up
While they did come away with the win, it wasn’t the way that they wanted to get it done.
Green can’t get ejected in Game 2 of this series as he is just too vital of a player to not be out on the floor for them. The Grizzlies are a tough, gritty team and the Warriors need Green to counteract.
Klay Thompson also has to bounce back from an ugly 6-19 shooting game. Seeing him miss back-to-back free throws was unusual as well.
Luckily, they have had another player outside of Steph Curry to lift them up when they need him the most. That is Jordan Poole. Poole dropped an efficient 31 points in Game 1 and was the highest plus/minus on the team at +10.
Nobody else was over +3 to put it into perspective. He will continue to be their x-factor as they look to gain a larger series lead.
Grizzlies Must Shoot the Ball Better
Obviously, cold shooting games as a team happen, but the Grizzlies can’t let it get into their heads. Ja Morant led scoring with 34 on this team, hitting 14 out of his 31 shots on the night.
Other role players like Dillon Brooks made just three-of-13 while Desmond Bane made just three-of-10. This is still a young Memphis squad that has a lot of work to do in the experience department.
The good news here is that this was a different team than Round 1. Morant played well and was a difference-maker. In Round 1, he was invisible at times. They just need to clean up a few things and they can even up the series.
Warriors vs Grizzlies Head-to-Head
The Grizzlies won three out of the four regular season games against the Warriors this season, however, the recent playoff loss brings their record against them to 3-2.
Warriors vs Grizzlies Game Information
- Game: Warriors (53-29) vs Grizzlies (56-26)
- Location: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
- Day/Time: Tuesday, May 3, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Warriors vs Grizzlies Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Warriors vs Grizzlies Betting Lines
Warriors vs Grizzlies Prediction
These two teams have been far too good all year long to have this series turn into a blowout. Those who betonline should expect a close battle the entire way.
The Warriors are going to be as explosive as ever with Green playing a lot more, but Memphis will have far better production out of their roleplayers this time around.
Memphis is currently listed as the underdogs in the sportsbook by two points in this game. Take them against the spread with your NBA picks as Morant and company will do everything possible to avoid an 0-2 series hole.
Pick: Grizzlies +2 (-110)
