Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies Betting Preview/Prop Picks

Game 1 of a matchup with big expectations begins tonight. The Golden State Warriors, after being the Denver Nuggets in five games, face the Memphis Grizzlies.

It's Stephen Curry versus Ja Morant in this Western Conference showdown. The Warriors will have their work cut out for them here, attempting to slow down the Grizzlies. However, they have Stephen Curry back.

With Curry playing full minutes for the Warriors, the Grizzles have something to worry about. They aren't playing the poor shooting Minnesota Timberwolves anymore.

Now, they'll have to find ways to control the perimeter and avoid giving up open looks. On offense, there are a few obstacles they'll have to overcome. So, which team should you be betting on tonight?

Golden State Warriors: Poole, Curry, and Thompson ready to go

There isn't much debate when it comes to the scoring prowess of the Golden State Warriors. They average 111 points per game, ranking 15th in the NBA.

Although this might not seem like a great ranking, it's their efficiency that's important. They also have players from the bench that have stepped up in a big way. Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga are a few of them.

Another player that has been fantastic to watch this series is Jordan Poole. Poole was the catalyst for the Warriors' offense when Stephen Curry was sidelined.

In the first game of the series against the Nuggets, Poole put up 30 points on his own. The Warriors will need a similar showing from Poole here since a lot of attention will be on Curry.

Memphis Grizzlies: Defending the perimeter is a must

It can't be overstated that the Grizzlies desperately need to defend the perimeter. If they don't, they could find themselves falling behind early tonight.

The Warriors are full of three-point shooters, something the Grizzlies don't have. Ranking fifth in the NBA, the Warriors as a team are shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc. Memphis can't afford to allow any open looks tonight.

On offense, the Grizzlies usually focus on driving to the paint. With Ja Morant averaging 21.5 points per game, we'd say it's working pretty well. However, during the playoffs, the main talk of Memphis is Desmond Bane.

Bane leads the team in points per game (23.5) and rebounds per game (9). The Grizzlies can use this to their advantage by getting Bane scoring opportunities.

Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies Pick

When looking at each of these teams, a few things stand out. One, the Grizzlies' defense is much better than many give them credit for. During the regular season, the Grizzlies allowed just 109.88 points per game, ranking 12th in the NBA.

Because of this defense and the input from Desmond Bane, we'll take the Grizzlies +2 here. They've gone 2-1 ATS in their last three games against the Warriors.

We believe they should be able to pull out a win today. We'll also take the under here, as the total has gone under in four of Memphis' last five games.

DunkelIndex Free Betting Pick: Memphis Grizzles +2, UNDER

Prop Picks

Golden State (-110) UNDER 111.5 Points

Memphis is allowing 109.9 points per game on defense, which ranks No. 12 in the league. That average drops to 108.4 points per game at home. Scores have gone UNDER in five of Memphis’ last six home games versus Golden State.

With Dunkel predicting a Memphis victory by the score of 109-106, take the Warriors (-110) to finish UNDER their Vegas team total of 111.5 points against the Grizzlies.

Draymond Green (-135) UNDER 8.5 Points

Green averaged 7.5 points per game during the regular season, which ranked No. 7 on the Warriors. That average decreased to 6.0 points per game in two games versus Memphis and 5.7 points per game in Golden State losses.

With Dunkel predicting a Warriors loss while staying UNDER their team point total, take Green (-135) to finish UNDER his Vegas point total of 8.5 points against Memphis.

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