Looking for a potential Western Conference finals preview? The Friday NBA odds board delivers just that, with a matchup of the conference’s top two teams — who also just happen to be the top two teams in the entire league.
For the first time since just after Christmas, the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies will meet up, with both looking to extend lengthy winning streaks. Combined, the first-place Suns and second-place Grizzlies have ripped off 15 consecutive wins. It’s merely the continuation of a season-long victory tour for both squads, who sport a combined 116-37 record.
With each team having locked up its playoff position, Phoenix and Memphis are essentially playing for pride Friday. That’s hardly the case in Denver, where the seventh-place Timberwolves visit the sixth-place Nuggets in a battle with significant Western Conference playoff implications.
Props.com breaks down the two biggest matchups among 10 games on the Friday NBA odds menu.
Odds via DraftKings and updated as of 5:15 p.m. ET on April 1.
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Phoenix Suns Vs Memphis Grizzlies
Tipoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET/NBA TV
Suns: 62-14 SU/42-34 ATS
Grizzlies: 54-23 SU/59-27 ATS
Spread/Total: Suns -7.5/229
Season series: The visitor has won both matchups, with the Suns rolling 119-94 as a 2-point favorite on Nov. 12 and the Grizzlies eking out a 114-113 victory as a 7.5-point underdog on Dec. 27
Did you know: Memphis continues to sport the NBA’s best point-spread record, cashing in 65 percent of its games. The Grizzlies also have the league’s second-best spread-covering record at home, going 25-13 ATS, just a tick behind Chicago (25-12 ATS)
About Phoenix: The Suns won their ninth in a row Wednesday, outlasting the Warriors 107-103 in Golden State. Despite falling just short as a 5-point road chalk, Phoenix is still 7-2 ATS during its current run. Since Jan. 11, the Suns are 31-5 SU and have put together winning streaks of eight, nine and 11 games. This follows a season-long 18-game winning streak from Oct. 30-Dec. 2. Phoenix has been nearly as good on the road (31-8 SU) as at home (31-6), and its 23-14 ATS record on the highway is tied for fourth-best in the NBA. Most recently, the Suns have won eight straight road contests (5-3 ATS). Phoenix, has clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, leads the NBA with an 8.4 point differential, ranks second in scoring offense (115.2 ppg), and seventh in scoring defense (106.8 ppg allowed).
Editor’s Note: Looking to become a sharper NBA bettor? Check out our NBA betting guide for a few wagering tips.
About Memphis: The Grizzlies barely stretched their winning streak to six in a row Wednesday, holding off the Spurs 112-111 but failing to cover as a five-point road chalk. That snapped a 5-0 ATS run. Memphis has built its latest winning streak without All-Star guard Ja Morant, who has been out since March 18 with a knee injury. And Morant isn’t alone in the trainer’s room (see injuries below). With and without Morant, the Grizzles are 10-1 SU/7-4 ATS in their last 11 overall. They’ve also won eight straight home games (7-1 ATS) and have cashed in 15 their last 18 as a host. Memphis is just ahead of Phoenix in the scoring department at 115.4 ppg. The Grizzlies are 28-0 this year when scoring at least 120, which they have done in 15 of their last 24 outings.
Injuries: Phoenix guard Cameron Johnson (right quad) is expected to return following a 12-game absence. Center JaVale McGee (illness) also is listed as probable after sitting out the past two games … Memphis’ list of woes is lengthy. In addition to Morant — who is averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per contest — the Grizzlies have four players listed as doubtful: center/leading rebounder Steven Adams (calf), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh), and guards Desmond Bane (ankle) and Tyus Jones (hand). Combined, that quartet averages 50.2 points, 22.7 rebounds, and 11.6 assists per game.
Notable Trends
- Phoenix is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 Friday contests
- Memphis is 40-18 ATS in its last 58 overall
- Memphis is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 as an underdog
- Over for Phoenix is on runs of 7-3 overall and 5-1 on the road
- Under is 4-0 in Memphis’ last four overall
- Home team is 7-3 SU/ATS in the last 10 Suns-Grizzlies meetings
- SU winner has covered the spread in 22 consecutive season battles
- Under is 7-2 in the last nine series clashes
- Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Memphis
Phoenix Suns Vs Memphis Grizzlies Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET: With 2.5 hours until game time, Phoenix is a 7.5-point chalk in DraftKings’ Friday NBA odds market. This line opened Thursday afternoon at Suns -3.5 and shot to -7 within a few hours, on news that the Grizzlies will likely be down a few players tonight (see above). Phoenix has been at various iterations of -7.5 much of today and is currently -7.5 flat, with Memphis taking 67% of spread bets, while a modest majority 53% of spread cash is on the Suns. The total on the Friday NBA odds board actually rose from 227.5 to 229.5 by this morning, dialed back to the opener, then grew to 229. The Over is seeing 69% of tickets/77% of money.
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs Denver Nuggets
Tipoff/TV: 9 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Timberwolves: 43-34 SU/41-34-2 ATS
Nuggets: 46-31/34-42-1 ATS
Spread/Total: Denver -3 (-105)/242 (Under -115)
Season series: Denver edged the TWolves 93-91 as a 1.5-point road underdog back on Oct. 30. However, Minnesota has taken the last two clashes 124-107 as a 4-point road pup (Dec. 15) and 130-115 as a 1-point home chalk (Feb. 1)
Did you know: The Timberwolves have been money in the bank when traveling to Denver in recent years, going 22-6 ATS in their last 28 trips to the Mile High City, including five straight spread-covers (1-4 SU)
About Minnesota: The Timberwolves are struggling at the wrong time, having dropped four of their last five SU and ATS. They’re coming off back-to-back blowout losses at Boston (134-112 on Sunday) and Toronto (125-102 on Wednesday). Throw in a 110-108 loss at Dallas on March 21, and Minnesota has dropped three in a row SU and ATS on the road. The slump comes on the heels of a 10-1 SU/ATS hot streak, during which the T-Wolves went 4-1 SU/ATS as a visitor. Positioned in seventh place in the conference standings, Minnesota appears destined for the NBA play-in tournament. It trails both Utah and Denver — who are tied for sixth — by three games with five to play.
About Denver: The Nuggets have peeled off three straight wins by a total of 17 points since Saturday. Denver first knocked off the Thunder at home (113-107), then hit the road and beat Charlotte (113-109 on Monday) and Indiana (125-118 on Wednesday). The Nuggets cashed in just one of those contests, barely squeaking by as a 3-point chalk in the four-point win over the Hornets. Denver has been burning bettors most of the season, and especially recently, going 4-9 ATS in their last 13 overall (including 1-6 ATS at home). As noted above, the Nuggets are deadlocked with Utah for the Nos. 5 and 6 spots in the West. Both are two games back of Dallas and Golden State, who are tied for third and fourth.
Injuries: Minnesota guards Malik Beasley (12.1 ppg) and Jaden McDaniels (9.4 ppg) have been ruled out with ankle injuries. (McDaniels has missed the last seven games.) … All of the Nuggets’ key players are healthy and presumably available Friday.
Notable Trends
- Minnesota is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 when playing on one day of rest
- Denver is 2-5 ATS in its last seven when playing on one day of rest
- Over for Minnesota is on runs of 37-16 overall and 40-19 on the road
- Over for Denver is on runs of 6-2 overall and 19-7-2 at home
- Underdog is 12-3 ATS in the last 15 TWolves-Grizzlies meetings
- Over is 5-2 in the last seven series clashes
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs Denver Nuggets Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET: Denver opened as a 4.5-point chalk on DraftKings’ Friday NBA odds board and bottomed out multiple times today at -2.5. The Nuggets are now -3 (-105) while landing 62% of spread bets, but 52% of spread money is on the Timberwolves. The total has been a massive mover, from 233.5 to 242.5 on interesting splits: 61% of bets are on the Under, but 83% of money is on the Over.