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New Orleans Pelicans vs Memphis Grizzlies December 27th 2024
The Pelicans will host the Grizzlies in a Southwest Division matchup at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans is currently on an eight-game losing streak and is a 9.5-point underdog.
Memphis is 21-10 and is favored by 9.5 points. The over/under line for the game is 238.5 and tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 ET. You can watch the game on Gulf.
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans
- Where: New Orleans at Smoothie King Center
- Date: Friday, December 27th
- Betting Odds MEM -9.5, MEM -428 | NO +335 O/U 238.5
The Grizzlies Can Win If…
Memphis improved to 21-10 this season with a dominant 155-126 win over the Raptors on Thursday. Playing at home, the Grizzlies were favored by 11.5 points and covered the spread with a 29-point victory.
Memphis jumped out to a 43-35 lead after the 1st quarter and maintained that margin through the 2nd, with both teams scoring 35 points. The Grizzlies pulled away in the 3rd, outscoring Toronto 43-30, and closed out the game by holding the Raptors to 26 points in the 4th while adding 34 of their own. The total points for the game (281) exceeded the O/U line of 241 by 40 points.
The Grizzlies poured in 155 points in their win over the Raptors, shooting 53.2% from the field and hitting 18 threes at a 40% clip. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey both scored 21 points, with Edey also grabbing 16 rebounds.
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Desmond Bane added 19 points, while Luke Kennard and Ja Morant each contributed 15, with Kennard scoring 12 of his points in the 4th quarter.
Despite giving up 126 points, the Grizzlies tightened up defensively in the 4th quarter, allowing just 26 points to secure the win over the Raptors. Memphis allowed 35 points in both the 1st and 2nd quarters, and 30 in the 3rd, with Toronto shooting 45% from the field.
The Grizzlies did well defending the three, holding the Raptors to 32% shooting with 14 made threes. Memphis sent Toronto to the line 18 times, where they made 14 free throws. The Grizzlies finished with 8 steals and 8 blocks.
- In their last three road games, Memphis has averaged 126 points per game while allowing 113. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-1 while going 2-1 vs. the spread.
- The Grizzlies have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
- Over their last three games, the Grizzlies have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.
The Pelicans Can Win If…
The Pelicans fell to 5-26 on the season after a 128-111 home loss to the Rockets on Thursday. New Orleans entered the game as +7 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 239 points exceeded the O/U line of 221.5 by 17.5 points.
Houston took control with a 12-0 run, turning a 26-20 deficit into a 32-26 lead. The Pelicans struggled early, trailing 39-22 after the 1st quarter. They were down 102-74 going into the 4th but outscored the Rockets 37-26 in the final period.
In their 128-111 loss to the Rockets, the Pelicans shot 43.4% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range. They made 12 threes, with Trey Murphy hitting 4 at a 44.4% clip, finishing with a team-high 21 points.
Murphy scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Brandon Boston added 16 of his 17 points in the 4th. Dejounte Murray also contributed 17 points, with 9 coming in the 3rd.
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Defensively, the Pelicans struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up 39 and 41 points, respectively, in their 128-111 loss to the Rockets. They did manage to tighten up in the 2nd quarter, allowing just 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
New Orleans allowed Houston to shoot 47% from the field, including 38% from beyond the arc, where the Rockets hit 18 threes. The Pelicans also sent Houston to the line 23 times, where they converted 18 free throws. On the boards, New Orleans gave up 18 offensive rebounds while recording 12 steals and 2 blocks.
- Through their last ten home games, New Orleans has an ATS record of just 3-7. However, their overall record was 0-10 while averaging 102 points per game.
- Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, New Orleans has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 0-3 straight up.
- In their last three games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.
The Lean
The Grizzlies is our pick to not only win with a projected score of 152-113. But we also favor them to cover the spread. Our bet is on the Grizzlies at -9.5.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 238.5, and our model projects the Grizzlies and Pelicans to reach a combined total of 265 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
High-Scoring Grizzlies to Face Leaky Pelicans’ Defense Next
The Memphis Grizzlies’ offense is firing on all cylinders, making their Friday night matchup against the struggling New Orleans Pelicans a compelling clash. The Grizzlies are riding a hot streak offensively, while the Pelicans are desperately seeking defensive answers.
Memphis on a Scoring Tear
The Grizzlies have been on an incredible offensive run, averaging 140.4 points in their last five wins. That stretch includes an NBA season-high and franchise-record 155-point outburst against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
“We’re just moving the ball,” rookie forward Jaylen Wells said after contributing 17 points in the win. “A lot of guys had a lot of assists. We’re playing fast, and we’re hitting a lot of threes.”
Memphis showcased their offensive depth with eight players scoring in double figures and nine players combining for 36 assists. The team shot 58 of 109 from the field (53.2 percent) and hit 18 of 45 from 3-point range. Wells led the long-range effort with five made triples.
Just a week ago, Memphis set a franchise record with 27 3-pointers during a 144-93 rout of Golden State. Their potent offense has propelled them to a 13-3 record over their last 16 games.
Despite their explosive offense, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins highlighted the team’s need for defensive improvement after allowing 100 points through three quarters against Toronto.
“Giving up 70 points in one half is very uncharacteristic,” Jenkins said. “When we started clamping down, you could feel the momentum really shift.”
Pelicans’ Defensive Struggles
The Pelicans are on an eight-game losing streak and have allowed an average of 120.9 points per game during that span. Their struggles were evident in a 128-111 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, where they trailed by 17 points after the first quarter and never recovered.
Coach Willie Green was unusually critical of his team’s effort, calling out their lack of physicality and competitiveness.
“We were just soft tonight — period,” Green said. “We can’t step on our home court and have that lack of physicality.”
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Forward Herbert Jones echoed Green’s sentiments, lamenting the team’s lack of urgency and defensive intensity.
“We’ve all got to be better in that aspect,” Jones said. “I don’t really care how much we lose by. I’m more concerned about how we lose, and we can’t lose like that.”
Key Matchup
The Grizzlies, who lead the NBA with an average of 123.7 points per game, are poised to exploit the Pelicans’ defensive vulnerabilities. For New Orleans to have a chance, they’ll need to channel Green’s call for toughness and find ways to slow Memphis’ relentless pace.
As Memphis looks to extend their winning ways, New Orleans will be searching for a spark to end their prolonged slump. With both teams on the second night of a back-to-back, effort and execution will likely determine the outcome.
