The Los Angeles Clippers have taken the lead in their 2020-21 rivalry with the Lakers – and they're in great position to keep the good times going Thursday night.
The Clippers) are eight-point favorites for their road showdown with a Memphis Grizzlies team that has dropped two straight in uninspiring fashion. The Grizzlies have averaged just 94.5 points over their previous two games heading into the first of a two-game home set with the No. 2 team in the conference.
These are our favorite NBA free picks and predictions for Clippers vs Grizzlies on February 25.
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies betting preview
Injuries
Clippers: F Patrick Patterson (Out).
Grizzlies: G Dillon Brooks (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 10-4 in the last 14 head-to-head meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Grizzlies.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonThe Clippers opened as 7.5-point road favorites at FanDuel and peaked at -9 overnight, then backed up to -8 this afternoon, and the number remains -8 at 6:15 p.m. ET. Point-spread ticket count is 4/1 and money 6/1 on Los Angeles. The total has been all over the place, opening at 228.5, dropping to 226 late Wednesday night, climbing to 229.5 this morning, then receding to 225 this afternoon. As of 6:15 p.m. ET, the total is 225.5, with ticket count 2/1 and money 3/1 on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
Thursday kicks off a five-game road swing for the Clippers over an eight-day stretch – so there's a chance we'll see either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George sit out the opening leg in Memphis while the other rests in Friday's return engagement. Without knowing how the lineup will shake out, it's difficult to handicap this one – but that's what we're here to do, so by golly, we're doing it!
The Clippers are just 4-3 SU without Kahwi this season, and are 5-5 SU without PG-13. And the Grizzlies have fared decently against elite opponents this season, boasting a 6-7 mark vs. teams above .500. But the Clippers are on another plane, while the Grizz are just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 when getting eight or more points.
If both Clippers superstars sit out, all bets are off. But they should only need one to convert the cover against a frustratingly inconsistent Grizzlies team.
PREDICTION: Clippers -8 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Grizzlies' offense has fallen on hard times, as evidenced by back-to-back sub-100-point performances against Dallas and Phoenix. Both of those teams play at a below-average pace – and the same can be said of the Clippers, who rank 27th in pace but make it work with a 116.7 offensive rating that ranks second-best in the NBA behind only the Brooklyn Nets.
The loss of shooting guard Dillon Brooks for a third straight game, combined with either of the Clippers' stars catching a breather, would all but cinch an epic Under here. As it stands, that's still the preferred play regardless of who suits up in this one, with the Grizzlies struggling to find their offensive footing and the Clippers more than capable of slowing things down to a crawl.
PREDICTION: Under 227.5 (-110)
First quarter prop pick
The Clippers are good at just about everything – and that includes getting off to a fast start. Los Angeles ranks ninth in the NBA in first-quarter scoring at 29.3 points per game, and that average surges to 23.2 over the past three games. The Grizzlies are 17th in that category at 28.0 for the season, and have averaged just 21.0 ppg in the first quarter of their last three outings.
The Clippers would love to spread out the minutes in Thursday's game, so look for them to dominate the first quarter.
PREDICTION: Clippers 1Q -2.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Grizzlies betting card
- Clippers -8 (-110)
- Under 227.5 (-110)
- Clippers 1Q -2.5 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA Clippers vs. Grizzlies picks, you could win $59.58 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the NBA?
You can bet on NBA odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NBA moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NBA prop odds. Head over to our best sportsbooks for NBA betting in your area.
