John Hyslop
NBA
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There are only two NBA playoff games tonight but if I could speak for all of us, I’m glad. We need the rest. The last week has been non-stop action very similar to conference championship week in college basketball. Sometimes you just need a day to just have two must-watch games on television. I’m not saying we need multiple days like this, just that one is good. TNT has both games tonight so we get Ernie, Chuck, Kenny and Shaq, which is nice after a long day of celebrating Memorial Day. My plan is to give you a same game parlay on the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies at 9:30pm ET. There are a few angles that fit nicely together.
After you are done with this article, don’t forget to check out our picks on the side and total for all of tonight’s games. You can also follow me on Twitter for any other bets I might throw out throughout the day.
Ja Morant over 24.5 points (-116)
Dillon Brooks over 21.5 points (+100)
Mike Conley to record 15+ points (-240)
Jordan Clarkson to record 15+ points (-102)
Parlay odds: +1015
© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Ja Morant over 24.5 points (-116)
The books were setting Ja Morant at 21.5 in the first couple games but they have shifted to 24.5 for this one. I still think he goes over. Bettors can point to the fact that he has hit this number in all three games but I’m still betting the volume. Morant has taken at least 21 shots in all three games and got as high as 26 in Game 2. He and Dillon Brooks are the Grizzlies right now. With volume like that, his ceiling is in the high 40s. If you are watching these games and not just scanning box scores, it’s pretty easy to see Morant is scoring at will. I think he gets at least 25 tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Dillon Brooks over 21.5 points (+100)
The other half of the Grizzlies’ dynamic duo is Dillon Brooks. Even though he took only 14 shots in Game 2, his volume doesn’t match his total. In the other two games, Brooks jacked up at least 24 shot attempts. One thing this guy isn’t afraid to do is shoot the basketball. It’s worth noting that even though he took only 14 shots in Game 2, he still got home on 21.5 as he scored 23 points that night. It’s nice to know he can still hit this number if Morant flirts with 50. I think Brooks can get close to 30 tonight.
Mike Conley to record 15+ points (-240)
Mike Conley is another guy that volume has been good to. In each of the three games he’s dropped at least 20 points on at least 16 shot attempts. Give me a guy like Conley taking 16 shots and I will gladly bet him to score over 15 points. One thing that has been noticeable is the fact that he is living behind the three-point line. Conley has taken at least ten threes in two of the games which is something he did only a handful of times in the regular season. I like the revenge narrative to continue to play out for Conley in Memphis.
Jordan Clarkson to record 15+ points (-102)
This one is the wild card but I think it happens. First off, Jordan Clarkson has done it twice already in this series. The time he didn’t get home he scored 14 points. What’s noticeable is that Clarkson is seeing double-digit shot attempts in every game. He isn’t playing a ton of minutes but when he’s out there he is firing away as usual. He’s also taking a ton of threes and just missing them. That is unlikely to keep happening. Shooters shoot and Clarkson will keep shooting. If he finds his stroke, he’s a 20+ guy. If he doesn’t, he should still get to 15 on volume alone.
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