The top two NBA draft picks from 2019 face off on Tuesday night, as Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans take on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Oddsmakers are expecting a close contest with this NBA betting line currently set as a pick'em. So get ready to watch two of the most exciting young players in the game with our best free Pelicans vs. Grizzlies picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 16, with tipoff at 8 p.m. ET.
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies betting preview
Injuries
Pelicans: None.
Grizzlies: Desmond Bane SG (Out), De'Anthony Melton PG (Out), Jaren Jackson Jr. PF (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 18-3 in the Pelicans' last 21 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Grizzlies.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonThis line bounced around pick 'em up through lunch hour at FanDuel, with Memphis opening -1, the line jumping the fence to New Orleans -1, then going to Grizzlies -1.5 and back to Pelicans -1. As of 2:30 p.m. ET, the game is a pick 'em, with the Pelicans taking 56 percent of tickets and money on the spread. The total moved from 230 to 229.5, then rose to 232 and is now 231.5, with the Over grabbing 71 percent of bets/81 percent of money.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
The Pelicans come into this game on a three-game losing streak. What's worse is that each of those losses came by double digits and they weren't exactly against the best of competition, with New Orleans falling to the Pistons, Mavericks and Bulls over that span.
The Grizzles are fresh off a win against Sacramento but have also played poorly lately, going just 2-5 SU and ATS over their previous seven games.
When it comes to the recent play of the Grizzlies and Pelicans' young stars, Ja Morant has struggled from the field while Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have been lights out.
Morant is averaging 16 points per game on just 35.8 percent shooting over his last seven games. Meanwhile, in the Pels' previous seven contests, Williamson is averaging 26.6 ppg on 68 percent shooting, while Ingram is averaging 25.6 ppg on 47.7 percent shooting.
The Grizzlies haven't played well at home this season, going 4-7 SU with an average scoring margin of minus 3.8 ppg at FedEx Forum. The Pelicans have also owned the head-to-head recently, going 6-1 SU and ATS in the last seven meetings, including a 118-109 win ten days ago. Take New Orleans.
PREDICTION: New Orleans PK (-110)
Over/Under pick
Having been one of the worst defensive teams in the league over the last few years, New Orleans appeared to have turned things around at the beginning of this season. Not so fast, with the Pelicans regressing to their awful defending over the last month.
The Pels have been particularly brutal over their recent losing streak, allowing an average of 131.7 ppg over their last three games. However, they have upped their offensive production, putting up 119.9 ppg over their previous 11 contests.
The Grizzlies haven't been defending well either, allowing opponents to shoot 47.5 percent from the field, with that number ballooning to 51.8 percent over their last three games. On offense, they rank a solid 13th in the league in field goal percentage at 46.6, with that number improving to 50.7 over their previous three contests.
With the Pelicans going a commanding 18-3 O/U in their last 21 games and the Over 5-0 in the Grizzlies' previous five contests, play the Over again.
PREDICTION: Over 231.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
We mentioned that Morant has been struggling with his shooting touch, but the Grizzlies point guard has been dropping dimes lately.
Morant has racked up at least nine assists in each of his last five games. Now, he takes on a New Orleans team that allows a league-high 28.1 assists per game. Take the Over 8.5 on Morant's assists total.
PREDICTION: Ja Morant Over 8.5 assists (-110)
Pelicans vs Grizzlies betting card
- New Orleans PK (-110)
- Over 231.5 (-110)
- Ja Morant Over 8.5 assists (-110)
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