The Memphis Grizzlies will face the Boston Celtics on Sunday at TD Garden in Boston. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Celtics winning the first one 102-100. The Grizzlies are currently 13th in the Western Conference and are coming off a 121-101 loss against the Golden State Warriors. Jaren Jackson Jr. had a stellar performance with 27 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. The Celtics lost their last game at home to the LA Lakers on Thursday. Austin Reaves 32 points eclipsed the combined 31 points of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Preview
The Grizzlies are one of the most short-handed teams in the league currently due to injuries to key players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, causing them to lose four straight games and go 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Grizzlies are ranked 25th in offense with a 107.9 rating and 25th in net rating with a -5.5. Meanwhile, the Celtics have been the most consistent team, winning seven of their last 10 games. The Celtics are in the top five in all ratings, showing their league-best record with a best net rating of 9.1. This included the second-best offensive rating of 121.1 and the third-best defense with a 112.0 rating and 37.9% 3-point shooting, ranking fifth.
Starting lineup
The expected lineup for the Grizzlies is likely to include Scottie Pippen, Luke Kennard, Vince Williams, Jaren Jackson and Xavier Tillman Sr. Meanwhile, the Celtics will start with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis.
Betting tips & Prediction
Jayson Tatum has had an MVP-caliber season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 47.1% shooting. His point prop is set at over/under 26.5 and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 18.5 and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark.
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The Celtics are favored to win their upcoming home game. They have a substantial -16 point spread advantage and are -1450 on the moneyline. This is also because the Grizzlies are 13-13 on road record and the challenges posed by injuries that have shortened their rotation. The Celtics will look to get back to winning ways, handing the Grizzlies their fifth consecutive loss.
