Grizzlies vs. Heat Prediction and Odds: Memphis Continues to Win Without Ja Morant

The Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies meet for the second time this season on Monday night at the American Airlines Arena. Miami ended up winning that game handily 129-103 as a 3.5-point underdog. Now, the Heat are 14-10 and find themselves as 5.5-point home favorites. 

The Heat is coming off a pretty decisive loss to the Milwaukee Bucks 124-102 as 6.5-point underdogs. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are coming off a 97-90 win as one-point road dogs against the Dallas Mavericks. 

While both teams have strong rosters, a lot of their star power is sidelined at the moment. The Heat’s Bam Adebayo and Grizzlies’ Ja Morant are not suiting up for this one. 

Here are the odds for this Monday night matchup, courtesy of WynnBET: 

Grizzlies vs. Heat Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

• Grizzlies: +5.5 (-110)
• Heat: -5.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Grizzlies: +195
• Heat: -230

Total: 

• 216.0 (Over -110/Under -110)

Grizzlies vs. Heat Prediction and Pick

While both teams are playing without their best players, the Grizzlies haven’t really missed a beat in Morant’s absence. In fact, the Grizzlies have reeled off four wins a row without Morant.

They covered each of those games to boot. Desmond Bane has stepped up in a big way and led all scorers in their win over the Mavericks on Friday with 29 points. It was a career-high for Bane who added nine rebounds and went 4-for-6 from downtown. 

Where Memphis needs to pick things up, however, is on the defensive side of the ball. They won’t be able to shoot the lights out every night without their best player and are going to need to tighten up on D. Memphis currently is 26th in the NBA and surrender 111.8 PPG. 

The Heat’s offense is pretty average overall but good enough to take advantage of such a poor defense. At this point, the Heat are just trying to cling on their fifth spot in the East until Adebayo can return. With one of its best players out, Miami has lost three of their last four.

It did manage to beat the Pacers 113-104 as underdogs but got put back in their place by the Bucks on Friday. 

Both teams are in similar positions but the Grizzlies are doing a much better job of dealing with it. At least in the short term, it appears that the Grizzlies can continue to win without their best player while the Heat are hoping Jimmy Butler can return in this game.

Prediction: Memphis Grizzlies +195 to win