NBA: Lakers vs Grizzlies First Round Series Odds, and Picks

• The Lakers came from behind to defeat Minnesota, winning 108-102.
• Memphis lost to the Thunder, 115-100, to close out the regular season.
• These two teams last met on March 7, in a game that the Lakers won 112-103.

The Lakers (43-39) and the Grizzlies (51-31) match up in an exciting first-round series. The Grizzlies are looking to capitalize on a 51-win season, while the Lakers are seeking to bring LeBron to another Finals.

Jump to:

• Schedule
• Lakers vs Grizzlies Odds
• Series Preview
• NBA Picks

Series Schedule

Odds

Series Preview

Los Angeles surged back to defeat the Timberwolves on Tuesday, locking up the Western Conference’s #7 seed. They trailed for much of the 2nd half thanks to some poor shooting, but clamped down on defense in the 4th quarter, holding Minnesota to just 15 points. Dennis Schroder hit what should have been a game winner, before a bad foul by Anthony Davis forced OT. Ultimately, the Lakers managed to get the victory.

The Grizzlies finished the regular season with 51 wins, earning the Western Conference’s #2 seed. They cooled down a bit down the stretch, finishing 3-4 in their last 7 games, after going 10-1 in the 11 games prior. Memphis is led by star Ja Morant, who averages 26 ppg, 8 apg, and 6 rpg, as well as Jaren Jackson Jr, who averages 18.5 ppg, 7 rpg, and a whopping 3 blocks per game. They’ll both be crucial in this series.

Picks

It’s difficult to bet against LeBron James in the playoffs, which is definitely a large part of the reason why the #2 seed is just barely favored against the #7 seed. That being said, the Lakers have some depth issues, and did not look good at all against the Rudy Gobert-less Timberwolves in their play-in game. It’ll be tough for a young Memphis team to pull it off, but I see them getting the series win and advancing.

Moneyline: