NBA tips: beware a rampage from ferocious Memphis Grizzlies in LA

Will the Clippers become the latest team to feel the might of the Grizzlies? 

Memphis Grizzles @ Los Angeles Clippers

(Saturday, 8.30pm GMT)

Beginning the season as one of the main contenders for a championship, the LA Clippers have fallen from being among the NBA betting favourites to having a mere four per cent shot at the title, according to the markets.

All hope lies on the eventual return, and speedy assimilation, of the injured Kawhi Leonard. But with the Clips currently 19-19 and clinging onto eighth place in an extremely competitive Western Conference, their primary goal is now merely to remain in the playoff (or play-in) mix.

Following four losses on the bounce at home, Los Angeles hosts the surging Memphis Grizzlies in Saturday’s early NBA game and it’s easy to see why the visitors are 1.84 for the win.

LA are 12-16 against the West and 10-11 versus opponents with a .500+ record.

The Grizz, with Ja Morant in All Star-worthy form, are an astonishing 20-0 when bettering their foes’ field goal percentage – a concern when the Clippers are ranked just 25^th in the league over their last ten games (notching a disastrous 102 points per game) and are coming off consecutive defeats by an average of 17.5.

Throw in that Paul George is also likely sidelined until the end of January at least and Memphis, on a seven-game winning streak, look capable of delivering on a spread of -10 even if they might not need a full-blooded offense to pull off a rout.

Tip: Take under 215.5 points in Grizzlies – Clippers at 2.02

New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics

(Sunday, 12.30am GMT)

A mere two days after defeating the Celtics 108-105 at Madison Square Garden behind 41 points from Evan Fournier and a bank shot at the death from RJ Barrett, the New York Knicks will look for a repeat on Saturday when they get an instant rematch with their old rivals.

The Knicks have won two straight despite injury absences and an offense that has put up a pitiful rate of 101.7 points over their previous ten games.

But it is Boston who have the most troubles to seek with head coach Ime Udoka calling out his players for a “lack of mental toughness” after they squandered a 19-point lead for the fourth time this season.

The Cs are 4-6 over their previous ten games with a +0.9 point differential and remain 1.34 for a revenge victory. So it’s worth looking at a low spread with the Knicks at +6.5 available at 1.99.

Tip: Back the New York Knicks as a Second Half Winner at 2.3

San Antonio Spurs @ Brooklyn Nets

(Sunday, 5pm GMT)

In the Nets' rollercoaster of a campaign, ups and downs are now the norm. And Brooklyn – 2.46 betting favourites for the Eastern Conference title – need to arrest a five-game home skid when they host the San Antonio Spurs in Sunday’s early showpiece.

The Nets – who will be without Kyrie Irving in their new regular roster switcheroo – are a mere 10-10 in NYC and have struggled particularly to come back from deficits: they have a 6-10 record while trailing at the close of the third quarter.

The Spurs, however, are 0-20 when behind entering the fourth and are set to be mightily short-handed.

They have failed to score more than 104 points over their previous three games, handing Brooklyn a booster shot to recover from Friday’s mauling to the Milwaukee Bucks that made a mockery of the defending champions’ odds of 4.4 to top the East.

Tip: Take Brooklyn over San Antonio at -7

Recommended Bets:

Take under 215.5 points in Grizzlies – Clippers at 2.02.

Back the New York Knicks as a Second Half Winner at 2.3.

Take Brooklyn over San Antonio at -7.