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Memphis Grizzlies - Orlando Magic

Recommendation: OVER 189

Odds: 1.98

Memphis are in deep injury crisis once again. I can’t even remember a single season in the last 3-4 when they have not been in this type of situation unfortunately. Mike Conley, their starting point guard and the highest paid player in NBA in the moment, went down with a back injury and will miss around 6 weeks of action. He is the centerpiece in their gameplan and they find it very hard to win without him in the line-up. Other absentees are Vince Carter, Ennis and Chandler Parsons. Zach Randolph missed the last few games because of personal reasons and it’s not clear if he will be available tonight.

This gives many minutes to the young boys on the roster, quite naturally. To some surprise, the young Grizzlies are not looking that bad. They stayed well in the game in Toronto last night and kept the score even to one point in the 4th quarter when Raptors experience mattered and they pulled way to win 120-105. Memphis scored 105 on the road though, which is good for them in this situation, and they surely can produce the same scoring at home. Basically, almost everyone in this league can score the ball; the hard part is to defend properly, something which young Grizzlies will have to pay attention to in the years to come.

Orlando comes in excellent mood probably, winning in the fortress which is San Antonio home floor. They won 95-83 which means something like 110-90 if this was not against the Spurs J I am sure Frank Vogel would want to build on that. The proper course here is to push the tempo and try to embarrass inexperienced Grizzlies.

Magic are second to last in scoring average, this is the bad news (only Dallas score less points for now). Yet they will hardy have a more suitable opponent to unleash their offensive power. Both games last season went over this low line, the game here went over even before the overtime.