Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, 3/14/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Sunday, March 14, 2021

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma

Odds/Point Spread: Memphis (-2)

The Oklahoma City Thunder (16-21) host the Memphis Grizzlies (17-17) at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday. Memphis opens this matchup as 2-point favorites. The O/U opens at 230.

The Memphis Grizzlies stepped onto the hardwood against the Denver Nuggets and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 103-102 in their last contest. Memphis ended having earned a 46.0% field goal percentage (40 of 87) and converted 14 of their 28 3-point attempts. From the free throw line, the Grizzlies converted 8 of their 8 shots for a rate of 100.0%. With regard to grabbing boards, they collected a total of 45 with 8 of them being offensive. They also recorded 27 assists for the contest while creating 9 turnovers and getting 6 steals. Pertaining to defending, Memphis allowed their opponent to shoot 44.6% from the floor on 41 out of 92 shooting. Denver doled out 27 dimes and had 10 steals in the game. On top of that, Denver grabbed 45 boards (9 offensive, 36 defensive) and got 5 blocked shots. Denver finished shooting 72.7% at the free throw line by making 8 of their 11 attempts. They also buried 13 of 37 tries from 3-point range.

Dillon Brooks is one player who was a major contributor for the matchup. He recorded 20 points on 8 of 20 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 33:49 mins played and also snagged 3 rebounds. Brooks finished the game at 40.0% from the floor and also distributed 3 dimes. Someone else that came through in this game for the Grizzlies was Ja Morant. He grabbed 4 rebounds in 34:01 minutes played on the night. He finished the game at 31.3% from the field in the game by going 5-of-16 (16 points). When the final whistle was blown, Morant collected 9 assists.

Memphis enters this one with a win-loss record of 17-17 on the season. The Grizzlies are shooting 35.8% on 3-point shots (368 of 1,027) and 79.0% from the free throw line. They are averaging 111.8 pts per game (19th in basketball) on 46.5% from the floor. They turn it over 13.9 times per contest and as a basketball team they are committing 19.0 personal fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, Memphis is collecting 45.5 boards per game and has accounted for 922 dimes on the season, which is 16th in the NBA in terms of passing the ball. Defensively, the Grizzlies are able to force 16.4 turnovers per game and they draw 18.0 fouls. The Grizzlies defensively are giving up a FG percentage of 46.8% (557 of 612) and they surrender 43.6 boards per contest as a unit. They are currently ranked 6th in the NBA in allowing assists to their opponents with 862 relinquished on the year. They are giving up 37.2% on 3-point attempts and they rank 9th in basketball in points per game allowed (110.6).

In their last game, the Oklahoma City Thunder took home the win by a final score of 116-108 when they faced the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder snagged 39 defensive rebounds and 16 offensive boards totaling 55 for the contest. They also turned it over 9 times, while earning 2 steals in this game. The Mavericks committed 22 fouls in the game which took the Thunder to the free throw line for a total of 20 attempts. They were able to make 18 of them for a percentage of 90.0%. Pertaining to shooting from distance, Oklahoma City knocked down 16 out of their 32 tries (50.0%). When the final whistle blew, the Thunder finished shooting 41 for 91 from the field which gave them a percentage of 45.1%. The Thunder allowed the Mavericks to make 35 out of their 82 attempts from the field which gave them a rate of 42.7% in this game. They finished shooting 44.1% from beyond the arc by shooting 15 of 34 and finished the contest at 23 out of 33 from the free throw line (69.7%). In reference to rebounding, Oklahoma City allowed Dallas to pull down 37 in total (6 offensive).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended up having an impact for the Thunder for this contest. He made 11 out of 22 for this game giving him a rate of 50.0%, and had 2 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander racked up 32 points in his 32:37 minutes on the hardwood and added 6 assists in the matchup. An additional guy that ended up playing a role for Oklahoma City was Al Horford. He accumulated 2 assists in 27:41 mins on the hardwood, and he shot 8 of 15 from the floor. Horford ended the game having shot 53.3% from the field and also earning 21 points and 9 total rebounds.

Oklahoma City has a mark of 16-21 for the campaign. As an offensive team, the Thunder are connecting on 44.6% from the field, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Oklahoma City has accounted for 3,928 points for the year (106.2 per game) and they average 44.6 boards per contest. They are assisting teammates 23.1 times per game (24th in the NBA) and they cough up possession 14.4 times per game. The Thunder are responsible for committing 18.4 fouls per game and they connect on 73.9% from the free throw line. The Thunder defensively are ranked 12th in the league in points allowed per contest with 111.3. They are able to force 13.3 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 46.0% from the field (10th in the league). The Oklahoma City defense gives up 34.9% from downtown (474 of 1,357) and their opposition makes 75.6% of their foul shots. They have given up 24.7 dimes and 48.3 total boards per game, which ranks them 16th and 28th in the league.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Memphis (-2)

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