The Memphis Grizzlies (6-18) travel to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder (16-8) on Monday, December 18th. This game will be played at Paycom Center. The Thunder are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Grizzlies are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Nuggets. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Grizzlies vs Thunder

The Grizzlies Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their latest game against the Rockets, Desmond Bane was the top scorer for the Grizzlies’ offense, scoring 28 points and shooting 11/25 from the field. Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 22 points, but Memphis lost the game 103-96.

In the Grizzlies’ last five games, they have gone 1-4 and are 6-18 overall. They are currently 13th in the Western Conference and 4th in the Southwest division.

Memphis has an ATS record of 9-15 so far this season which includes their current four game losing streak vs. the spread. The Grizzlies maintain an ATS record of 6-6 on the road, while they have a 3-9 record vs. the spread when playing at home.

The Thunder Are Coming Off A Win

In their latest game against the Nuggets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer for the Thunder’s offense, scoring 25 points and shooting 9/20 from the field. Jalen Williams also added 24 points as the Thunder won the game by a score of 118-117.

Coming into today’s game against the Grizzlies, the Thunder are 2nd in the Western Conference with a record of 16-8. In the Northwest Division, they are in 2nd place as well.

Oklahoma City has an overall ATS record of 17-7 for the season so far. As the favorite this season, Oklahoma City is 9-4 vs. the spread while going 8-3 as the underdog.

Grizzlies Offense Breakdown

This season, the Memphis offense is ranked 30th in the NBA in scoring at 106 points per game. When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Grizzlies are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 98.8 per contest. This deliberate style of basketball has played a role in the unit ranking just 30th in made shots per game.

Thunder Offense Breakdown

The Thunder arrive for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top offensive teams, scoring an average of 120.4 points per game (5th). Coming into today’s game, the Thunder will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 12.5 made 3’s per game. Despite struggling with their outside shot, Oklahoma City remains one of the better offensive units in large part to their ability to get to the charity stripe. So far, the team is averaging 20.4 made free-throws per game.

Grizzlies Team Defense

Coming into today’s game, the Grizzlies’ defense is giving up an average of 112.3 points per contest.

When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Grizzlies squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 50.7% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 39.4% from downtown.

Thunder Team Defense

Currently, the Thunder’s defense holds the 13th rank in the NBA, allowing 113.6 points per game.

When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Thunder squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 51.0% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 35.7% from downtown.

Key Players For The Grizzlies And Thunder

The outlook for today’s matchup points to Jaren Jackson Jr. as the primary point contributor for the Grizzlies, finishing with 18 points while maintaining a 6/14 shooting accuracy. This season, he is averaging 21.8 points per game along with 5.7 boards.

On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is our projected leading scorer for the Thunder. We have him ending the game with a team-high 20 and grabbing 4 rebounds. This season, he has put together a field goal percentage of 54.2%, and he is contributing 30.7 points per game on average.

Grizzlies vs Thunder Trends

• In their last three road games, Memphis has averaged 109 points per game while allowing 111. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
• Through their last ten home games, Oklahoma City has an ATS record of just 7-3. However, their overall record was 6-4 while averaging 117 points per game.
• The last ten games that Memphis was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 3-7 while going 1-9 straight up.
• The Thunder have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread.

Grizzlies vs Thunder Prediction

We’re calling a win for the Thunder, with a final score of 112-100, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Thunder at -10.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 229 and our model has the Grizzlies and Thunder finishing with a combined 212 points. Our pick is to take the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.