Last Updated Aug 30, 2021, 9:49 AM
Play-In Game Predictions & Odds: Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers
- August 15, 2020
- By Kevin Rogers
- VegasInsider.com
The NBA 2020 postseason will begin on Saturday August 15, 2020 when the league produces its first inaugural play-in game.
The No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers will meet the No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday from the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida.
If the Trail Blazers win on Saturday, they’ll advance to the 2020 NBA Playoffs and meet the No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. If the Grizzlies win, then the pair will meet again on Sunday and whoever wins that game will play Los Angeles on Tuesday in Game 1.
Betting Resources
- Matchup: Play-In Game
- Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
- Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All
Betting Odds - Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers
Portland opened as a seven-point favorite over Memphis for Saturday's NBA Play-In Game while the total was sent out at 231.5
The early action came in on the underdog and most books have the Trail Blazers listed as six-point favorites while the total has been pushed up a point to 232.5.
Be sure to follow all the line movements.
Point-Spread Odds
- Trail Blazers -6
- Grizzlies +6
Money-Line Odds
- Trail Blazers -300 (Bet $100 to win $33)
- Grizzlies +250 (Bet $100 to win $250)
Total Odds
- Over 233.5
- Under 233.5
Inside the Betting Stats
(Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS)
Overall
- Portland: 35-39 SU, 32-40-2 ATS
- Memphis: 34-39 SU, 36-36-1 ATS
Bubble
- Portland: 6-2 SU, 5-2-1 ATS
- Memphis: 2-6 SU, 2-6 ATS
The Grizzlies started the bubble as the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but needed a victory in their eighth and final game against the Bucks just to qualify for the play-in series. Memphis lost four games by nine points or more, while two of the bubble defeats came to teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention (New Orleans and San Antonio).
Blazers' guard Damian Lillard is already an All-Star guard, but he ascended towards superstar status since the NBA restart. Lillard helped carry Portland to six victories, including the 134-133 triumph over Brooklyn in the regular season finale to guarantee a spot in the play-in series..
Lillard scored 42 points against the Nets, which was his fourth-highest scoring game in the bubble. The eye-opening performance by Lillard came in a 61-point outburst against the Mavericks on August 11 in a 134-131 win, while Portland cashed the OVER in seven of eight games.
Blazers' guard Damian Lillard has scored at least 40 points four times since the NBA restart. (AP)
Grizzlies vs. Blazers Head-to-Head
2019-20 Regular Season
July 31, 2020: Portland 140 (-3.5) vs. Memphis 135, Over 225
Feb. 12, 2020: Memphis 111 (-3.5) vs. Portland 104, Under 235
The Grizzlies took care of the Blazers in the only matchup prior to the restart at FedEx Forum. In the final game before the All-Star break, Memphis beat Portland, 111-104 behind Brandon Clarke's 27 points off the bench.
The rest of the Grizzlies struggled from the floor, as the starting backcourt duo of Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks combined to shoot 13-of-39 from the floor for 31 points. Portland was limited to 37% shooting, while Lillard was held to 20 points on 7-of-19 shooting.
Portland and Memphis tipped off play in the bubble in late July in one of the most entertaining games of the restart. The Blazers built a 68-60 halftime lead and jumped out to a 13-point third quarter advantage before the Grizzlies outscored Portland, 30-6 in an eight-minute span to go ahead to start the fourth quarter.
Memphis led 112-103 with under six minutes remaining in regulation, but Portland rallied back behind a pair of Carmelo Anthony three-pointers in the final two minutes to force overtime. The Blazers scored the first 11 points in the extra session and held on for the 140-135 victory and cover as 3.5-point favorites.
