Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, 4/20/2025 Preview and Pick

Game: Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025

Location: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK

TV: ABC

Odds/Point Spread: Memphis (+13.0)

The Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) are headed to Paycom Center on Sunday where they will attempt to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round. Memphis is 13-point underdogs. The betting total is set at 227.

The Grizzlies advanced to this game with a 120-106 win over the Mavericks on Friday night. The Grizzlies had a balanced scoring outing, getting 24/7/7 from Jaren Jackson Jr. and 22/9/7 from Ja Morant. As a team the Grizz shot 41% from 3-point land, going 13-31. They finished with 50 rebounds and 30 assists. On the defensive end, Memphis held Dallas to 31% from 3 and even though Anthony Davis put up 40 points, their defense was able to hold everyone else in check. 

Memphis comes into this contest with a record of 48-34 for the campaign. They turn the ball over 15.7 times per game and as a unit are committing 20.9 personal fouls on a nightly basis. As a team, Memphis is collecting 47.3 boards per contest and has accumulated 2,330 dimes so far this year, which is 8th in basketball in terms of passing. The Grizzlies are connecting on 36.7% on shots beyond the perimeter (1,141 of 3,107) and 78.6% from the charity stripe. They are averaging 121.7 pts per game (2nd in the league) while connecting on 47.9% from the field.

On the defensive end, the Grizzlies are forcing their opponents into 15.1 turnovers per game while drawing 20.2 fouls. They are relinquishing 36.0% on 3-point shots while they are 24th in basketball in PPG allowed (116.9). The Grizzlies defense is giving up a field goal percentage of 45.6% (3,435 of 7,529) and they concede 43.5 rebounds per game as a squad. They currently rank 18th in the league in giving up assists to their opponents with 2,217 relinquished for the season.

The last time they took the hardwood, the Thunder went home victorious with a score of 115-100 against the Pelicans. The Thunder collected 37 defensive rebounds and 17 offensive boards for a total of 54 in this matchup. They coughed it up 10 times, while earning 8 steals in this matchup. The Pelicans were called for 19 fouls for this game which got the Thunder to the free throw line for a total of 27 tries. They were able to make 24 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 88.9%. With regard to shots from beyond the perimeter, Oklahoma City converted 9 out of 47 tries (19.1%). When the final whistle blew, the Thunder went 41 for 98 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 41.8%. The Thunder permitted the Pelicans to knock down 35 out of 91 attempts from the field which gave them a percentage of 38.5% for this contest. They went 18.4% from behind the 3-point line by shooting 7 out of 38 and ended up shooting 23 out of 30 from the charity stripe (76.7%). In regard to how they cleaned up the glass, Oklahoma City permitted New Orleans to grab 47 overall (11 on the offensive side).

Aaron Wiggins pitched in for the Thunder for the matchup. He knocked down 8 out of 18 in this matchup giving him a rate of 44.4%, and earned 7 rebounds. Wiggins earned 28 points in his 37 mins on the court and added 7 dimes in the game.

Oklahoma City has a mark of 68-14 for the year. In terms of offensive execution, the Thunder are shooting 48.2% from the floor, which has them ranked 7th in the NBA. Oklahoma City has accounted for 9,881 pts on the season (120.5 per contest) and they pull in 44.8 rebounds per contest. They are earning an assist 26.9 times per contest (12th in basketball) and they are giving up possession 11.7 times per contest. The Thunder have committed 19.9 fouls per contest and they shoot 81.9% from the free throw line.

The Thunder on the defensive side of the court are 3rd in basketball in points allowed per game with 107.6. They have forced 17.0 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 43.6% from the floor (1st in the NBA). The Oklahoma City defense gives up 34.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter (1,104 of 3,225) and their opponents are making 77.4% of their foul shots. They have allowed 24.6 dimes and 44.9 boards per game, which ranks them 4th and 20th in basketball.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Memphis (+13.0)

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