The Golden State Warriors are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Two rivals in the NBA Western Conference playoff race meet head-to-head this Tuesday. With both teams dealing with late-season injuries this season, this matchup has major playoff implications. The winner of this game could find themselves in control of the number 6 seed. This would come with a much-needed chance to rest players in preparation for the postseason.
| Team | Spread | Total Points O/U | Money Line |
| Warriors | -3.5 | O 239 | -135 |
| Grizzlies | +3.5 | U 239 | +115 |
Curry and Morant Both Return to Lineup
Ja Morant played Saturday for the first time since March 14. Morant had 22 points in 31 minutes when the Lakers came to FedEx Forum. The Grizzlies lost that game 134-127. Steph Curry has missed time recently with a pelvic contusion. Team doctors say Curry will “feel it for a while,” but avoided breaking the bone and missing significant time. The health of both of these guards is going to be pivotal going forward. With a win on Tuesday, the Warriors could open the door to potentially stealing the six seed from the Grizzlies. This would help an aging Golden State team avoid having to win a game in the play-in tournament in order to make the postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies Spiraling Towards Missing Postseason
Memphis currently sits at the number 5 seed in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, this would be a comfortable position. However, in the west, the battle for postseason seeding has become a cutthroat war towards the end. Memphis’s loss to Los Angeles on Sunday night makes them look like a team that could find themselves falling into the play in the tournament.
Memphis has lost 6 of the last 8 games and appears to be in the middle of a collapse. They fired head coach Taylor Jenkins, and on Sunday night, new interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo lost his debut to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Grizzlies allowed the Lakers to rain down 3-pointers, particularly in the 3rd quarter. Oddsmakers have the Grizzlies as slight dogs at home when the lines open up. This team could be vulnerable against a composed and hungry opponent with a championship pedigree like the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State Warriors Surging At The Right Time
The Warriors will be without Gary Payton II in this matchup. Jonathan Kuminga is also questionable with a pelvic contusion. Despite battling through injuries the Warriors have been catching heat towards the end of the season. They put up a season high 148 points in a win against San Antonio on Saturday night. They also may have a good matchup against the Grizzlies defense as they allowed the Lakers to shoot 55% from 3 on Sunday.
Catching the Golden State Warriors as slight favorites at home seems like a reliable bet. Memphis looks like they have lost the defensive edge in recent games. Golden State, on the other hand, statistically has a top-10 ranked offense and defense for the entire season. This game may come down to which teams can get hot at the right time in the end. Still, the Golden State money line and spread bets should be solid picks for the Tuesday night slate.
