Indiana Pacers vs Memphis Grizzlies Prediction, 12/21/2023 Preview and Pick

Game: Indiana Pacers vs Memphis Grizzlies

Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Location: FedExForum in Memphis, TN

TV: Bally Sports Southeast-Memphis

Odds/Point Spread: Indiana (+4)

FedExForum is the site where the Memphis Grizzlies (7-19) will try to defeat the Indiana Pacers (13-12) on Thursday. Memphis opens this game as 4-point favorites. The total is 245.5.

The Pacers faced off with the Clippers and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 151-127 in their last game. Indiana walked away from the game having earned a 51.6% field goal percentage (49 of 95) and converted 12 of 33 shots from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, the Pacers converted 17 of 21 attempts for a percentage of 81.0%. In the matter of rebounding, they compiled 34 with 11 of them being on the offensive end. They also distributed 38 dimes for this contest as well as forcing 11 turnovers and getting 6 steals. Pertaining to the defense, Indiana allowed 57.1% from the field on 56 of 98 shooting. Los Angeles recorded 26 dimes and had 4 steals in the matchup. In addition, Los Angeles had 46 rebounds (14 offensive, 32 defensive) and earned 7 blocks. Los Angeles ended up shooting 87.0% from the charity stripe by making 20 of their 23 tries. They made 19 of their 38 shots from beyond the perimeter. When discussing fouls, the Pacers finished with 21 while the Clippers recorded 19 fouls.

Bennedict Mathurin is one guy who was a major contributor in this matchup. He recorded 34 points on 12 of 20 shooting. He saw the court for 35 mins and collected 6 boards. Mathurin finished 60.0% from the floor and dished out 2 assists.

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Indiana enters this matchup with a record of 13-12 this season. They are averaging 127.4 pts per game (1st in the NBA) while shooting 50.5% from the field. The Pacers are connecting on 37.6% on 3-point shots (353 of 938) and 78.9% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Indiana is pulling in 40.2 rebounds per contest and has accumulated 765 dimes for the year, which is 2nd in the NBA in terms of passing the rock. They lose possession by turning the ball over 13.1 times per game and as a team they commit 22.4 fouls every game.

Defensively, the Pacers are able to force 14.4 turnovers per game and they draw 19.0 fouls. They are currently ranked 5th in basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 641 conceded for the year. The Pacers are giving up a field goal percentage of 51.1% (1,164 of 2,278) and they relinquish 43.1 rebounds per contest as a group. They are surrendering 40.1% from beyond the arc while they are 30th in basketball in opponents PPG (127.0).

In their last game, the Grizzlies got the victory with a final of 115-113 against the Pelicans. The Grizzlies earned 29 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive rebounds totaling 42 in this matchup. They coughed up the ball 17 times, while getting 5 steals for the matchup. The Pelicans had 23 personal fouls in this matchup which got the Grizzlies to the free throw line for a total of 29 tries. They were able to convert 23 of those for a percentage of 79.3%. In reference to shooting from 3-point land, Memphis converted 10 of their 31 attempts (32.3%). At the conclusion of this game, the Grizzlies shot 41 for 82 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 50.0%. The Grizzlies allowed the Pelicans to make 40 out of their 85 attempts from the floor which left them with a shooting percentage of 47.1% in this matchup. They shot 44.0% from distance by shooting 11 of 25 and finished the game at 22 out of 24 at the free throw line (91.7%). Regarding how they rebounded, Memphis allowed New Orleans to collect 39 in total (11 on the offensive glass).

Ja Morant was important for the Grizzlies for this game. Morant earned 34 points in his 35 minutes on the hardwood and had 8 assists in the game. He knocked down 12 out of 24 in this contest for a field goal rate of 50.0%, and tallied 6 rebounds.

Memphis has a record of 7-19 this year. The Grizzlies are committing 21.3 personal fouls per contest while shooting 77.8% from the charity stripe. They are assisting teammates 23.7 times per game (28th in basketball) and they are turning it over 14.9 times per contest. Memphis has accounted for 2,756 pts on the year (106.0 per game) and they average 42.1 boards per contest. In terms of offensive execution, the Grizzlies are shooting 43.4% from the field, which ranks 30th in the league.

The Grizzlies defensively are ranked 11th in basketball in points per game surrendered with 112.5. They have forced 15.6 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 45.8% from the floor (9th in basketball). The Memphis defense concedes 39.3% on shots from beyond the arc (367 of 934) and their opposition knocks down 79.9% of their foul shots. They have relinquished 25.3 dimes and 45.8 boards on a nightly basis, which is 9th and 26th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Memphis (-4) and under 245.5 points

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