NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Desmond Bane, Warriors-Grizzlies and Grayson Allen)

As NBA fans, we have been treated to a pretty solid start to the second round of the playoffs, and now we return to the two matchups that delivered the best Game 1 action. 

The Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry are looking to steal another road game against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks look to do the same against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. 

Do the respective No. 2 seeds get back on track tonight? 

After a rough night on Monday with our NBA Best Bets, I’m looking to bounce back. The playoff record still sits at 35-25, but it could be even better. 

Here are my picks for tonight: 

All odds via WynnBET:

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 220-197-5 (+3.1829 units)

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.

NBA Best Bets Today

• Golden State Warriors Moneyline vs. Memphis Grizzlies (-130)
• Desmond Bane OVER 17.5 Points (-120)
• Grayson Allen OVER 10.5 Points (-130)

Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Warriors Moneyline (-130)

Yes, Memphis covered in Game 1 and could have pulled out the victory, but was the Grizzlies’ performance sustainable? 

Jaren Jackson Jr. had one of his best games of the season, scoring 33 points and Ja Morant shot 14-for-31 on his way to a 34-point game. 

And the Grizzlies lost? 

Sure, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks weren’t great, but neither were Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, as they combined to shoot just 14-for-39 from the field. Jordan Poole picked up the slack, but we’ve seen all three rolling at times for Golden State in these playoffs. 

The bigger issue is Draymond Green, arguably the best defender in the NBA, who will be back in the lineup and help Golden State avoid some of the breakdowns it had in the second half. 

Game 1 set up perfectly for Memphis to come away with the win, but the Warriors made timely stops, such as this one by Steph, to save the day. 

I’m going right back to my pick for Game 1 and taking Golden State to grab another victory. 

Desmond Bane OVER 17.5 Points (-120)

While I don’t think Memphis wins this game, I’m all-in on a Desmond Bane bounce-back game, even though he is questionable with a back injury. 

Bane has been on fire as of late, clearing this number in six of his last 10 games, and he’s averaging 21.4 points per game in the playoffs on 15.1 shots per game (8.6 3-point attempts per contest). 

Bane took just 10 shots in Game 1, and he had his worst shooting performance of the playoffs, going 1-for-5 from beyond the arc. 

The Warriors’ defense allowed too many easy baskets for Ja Morant inside, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they collapsed on him a bit more in Game 2, leaving Bane open for some catch-and-shoot opportunities. 

Grayson Allen OVER 10.5 Points (-130)

There is nobody in Milwaukee who benefits more from Khris Middleton being out of the lineup than Grayson Allen. 

Allen is averaging 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 13 games without Middleton this season, and he has cleared this number in four straight games since Middleton’s injury. 

The biggest switch is the volume, as Allen took just six shots in his first two playoff games, but with Middleton out he’s taken 12, 12, 10 and eight shots in his last four games. 

As long as the volume is there, over 10.5 should be reachable tonight.