The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Memphis Grizzlies on February 15 (Thursday) at the FedExForum in Memphis. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Bucks are currently in the Eastern Conference with a 35-20 record and are coming off a loss against the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were held below their usual performance levels against the Heat’s defense, combining for 39 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. On the other hand, the Grizzlies are 13th in the Western Conference with a 19-36 record and will play for the second consecutive night after beating the Houston Rockets at home.
Preview
The Bucks have gone 3-6 under their new head coach, Doc Rivers. They are 1-1 in their last two games, with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday and a defeat against the Miami Heat on Tuesday. However, they have struggled to win on the road, going 1-4 with a -1.9 net rating. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have been undermanned and struggled without their stars, Ja Morant, Desmond Benn and Marcus Smart, going 1-9 in their last 10 games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. stands out as an experienced defender for the Grizzlies, but other than him, the team has no traditional center in its playing rotation. The Bucks are dominating and can force Memphis to constantly adjust on defense. Aside from Jackson, the Grizzlies lack a player capable of effectively competing against players like Giannis or Damian Lillard.
Starting lineup
The Bucks will likely start with Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies will start with Luke Kennard, John Conchar, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Betting tips & Prediction
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.7 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists, along with 1.1 blocks and 1.4 steals. His point prop is set at over/under 29.5 points and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark.
Damian Lilllard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 24.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 24.5 points and is favored to reach this mark.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. His point prop is set at over/under 22.5 and is favored to reach this mark.
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The Bucks are favorites to win against the Grizzlies on Thursday, despite playing on the road. They are favored by -11 point spreads and -667 on the moneyline. They are expected to exceed the total point mark of 225.5 and while the Grizzlies lack the firepower, they are favored to go under 225.5.
