Top NBA Picks and Predictions Today (Grizzlies, Clippers Have Value as Short Home Favorites)
By Peter Dewey
There are two marquee matchups in the NBA on Thursday night, with the Memphis Grizzlies hosting the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers hosting the Phoenix Suns.
All four of these teams have NBA title aspirations, so this should be a good litmus test for everyone involved to see where they stand this season.
Milwaukee and Memphis are both in the conversation for the top seed in their respective conferences, but the Bucks won’t have All-Star guard Jrue Holiday in this matchup due to an illness.
With Memphis being one of the best home teams in the league, does Holiday’s absence give the Grizz value?
I’ll answer that question, as well as who I believe wins the Suns-Clippers matchup with Phoenix looking to snap a five-game skid in today’s top picks and predictions:
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies Odds, Prediction and Pick
The Grizzlies are slight favorites at home in this game, and even with Desmond Bane still sidelined, I think they come out with a win in this matchup.
Memphis is 12-2 straight up and 10-3-1 against the spread at home this season, one of the best marks in the NBA. The Grizzlies should benefit in a big way from Holiday’s absence, as he was expected to be the primary defender on Ja Morant.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a matchup nightmare for any team, but the Bucks have not been as effective on offense as you’d expect this season, ranking 18th in the NBA in offensive rating.
With the Grizzlies winning six straight home games by eight or more points, I think they pull off a win against Milwaukee tonight.
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Odds, Prediction and Pick
The Suns are in an absolute tailspin right now.
The team has the worst net rating in the NBA over the last five games, getting blown out by the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics in that stretch. The Suns lost their last game to the Houston Rockets in Houston.
That moved Phoenix to just 4-9 straight up on the road this season, and now it has to take on a Clippers team that has covered the spread in four straight games now that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are healthy.
The Clips have won three straight games, and I think this line is a value since Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton are questionable. If one or both of those players are ruled out, the Clippers will almost certainly be 3-point favorites or more.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.