Ricky Dimon
NBA
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The Western Conference play-in tournament begins on Wednesday, starting with this showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies before the Los Angeles Lakers entertain the Golden State Warriors. Both contests will be aired on ESPN, and both are getting the same game parlay treatment they deserve. Let’s take a look at the best such option for Spurs-Grizzlies, and be sure to also check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Memphis Grizzlies -6.5 alternate spread (+132)
Ja Morant to score 25+ points (+196)
Dejounte Murray over 5.5 assists (-112)
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is some of the plan here, a productive performance by Ja Morant would obviously go a long way toward a Memphis win and cover. At the same time, plays that aren’t correlated drive up the overall payout of the parlay. That is the case with tipping Dejounte Murray to dish out more than a few assists. But even if Murray does that, there is no reason why the Grizzlies can’t get the job done.
Memphis Grizzlies -6.5 alternate spread (+132)
San Antonio ended the regular with four consecutive setbacks. Will head coach Gregg Popovich’s squad be able to get back on track in time to book a spot in the real playoffs? Maybe not. The Spurs went 1-2 against the Grizzlies during the 2020-21 campaign, and now Memphis holds home-court advantage in this fourth matchup. Morant and company missed out on the No. 8 seed by dropping their final game to Golden State, but that was only because Stephen Curry went wild. The former Murray State star is averaging 25.3 ppg on 62 percent shooting against San Antonio this year. He will likely have too much game for a Spurs team that just isn’t overly talented. DeMar DeRozan has been playing decent enough basketball of late, but he isn’t good enough to carry an otherwise lackluster roster.
Ja Morant to scored 25+ points (+196)
Morant was up and down in three games against San Antonio during the regular season, but one 44-point barrage inspires plenty of confidence. He simply didn’t involve himself as much in the other two head-to-head matchups despite being relatively efficient from the floor. The 21-year-old shot 31-for-50 overall against the Spurs, and you can be sure that in this win-or-go-home situation he is going to shooting the ball with alacrity and taking matters into his own hands.
San Antonio’s defense has been shaky this month, allowing an average of 123.6 ppg over their last five games. For the season this squad ranks only 18th in defensive efficiency. Meanwhile, Memphis plays at the eighth-fastest pace in the league.
Dejounte Murray Over 5.5 assists (-112)
A high-paced game will benefit all involved in the department of offensive statistics. Murray is another player who should capitalize, especially in the form of assists. In three regular-season contests against Memphis this season, the 24-year-old averaged 6.7 dimes. He is distributing 6.2 apg over the last six games and there is no reason why he can’t maintain such a pace at the expense of the Grizzlies. Memphis finished 22nd in the NBA in opponents’ assists per field goal made (61.9 percent) and in its last three games it watched the opposition assist on 66.7 percent of made baskets.
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