Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks, and Betting Preview for NBA Basketball Game

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets Game Information

Dallas Mavericks (2-4) vs. Houston Rockets (2-2)

Date: 2/28/21

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Toyota Center

TV Coverage: NBA League Pass, Fox Sports Southeast, AT&T Sportsnet Southwest

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets Moneyline, Spread, Total, and Odds

Moneyline: (Open: Grizzlies -155 / Rockets +135) (Current: Grizzlies -170 / Rockets +150)

Spread: (Open: Grizzlies -3) (Current: Grizzlies -3.5)

Total: (Open: 222) (Current: 223)

NBA Championship Odds: Grizzlies +24000 / Rockets +25000

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Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets News and Notes

Memphis lists three players on their injury report: Killian Tillie (foot) will be a game-time decision while Grayson Allen (concussion) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) have both been ruled out.

Houston lists four players on the injury report: Kenyon Martin Jr. (ankle) will be a game-time decision while Victor Oladipo (rest), Dante Exum (calf), and Christian Wood (ankle) have all been ruled out.

Notable Trends

• Memphis is 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an outright loss.
• Houston is 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games.
• Houston is 0-4 ATS in their last four home games against a team with a winning road record.
• The total is 27-13 to the under in the last 40 meetings in Houston.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets Predictions and Picks

The injury report would be a logical place to begin this handicap as the Rockets will be without key players like Victor Oladipo and Christian Wood, who average a combined total of 40.9 points per game. Oladipo is being rested for this game while Wood hasn’t played since February 1st, which was also the last time the Rockets registered a win. Houston has lost racked up 10 straight losses during that span, with most of them coming by double digits.

I’m all for looking after the players’ best interests, but the decision to rest Oladipo is a peculiar one, and I wonder if this is the Rockets waving the white flag on their season. At some point, you’ve got to try to wipe the slate clean and go for a win. Not pairing Oladipo with John Wall in the backcourt makes this game even more difficult for the Rockets.

The Grizzlies come into this matchup seemingly as the team with more to play for. Memphis is tenth in the conference but just three games behind the fifth-ranked Spurs. In the Grizzlies’ last game, they suffered a loss at home to the Clippers, which perhaps was expected. However, Memphis has shown a propensity of late to bounce back following a loss as they’re 4-1 ATS in their last five games in this spot. Memphis is clearly the healthier team for this game, and that should be the difference against a depleted Rockets team that has allowed over 100 points in each game during their 10-game losing streak.

Look for Houston to continue to struggle defensively without Wood in the lineup. They’re actually sixth this season in allowing 1.066 points per possession. However, during his absence, they’re in the bottom quadrant of the league in that category.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Rockets should be on your fade list, and laying 3.5 points on the road with the Grizzlies is a short price to pay in this spot.

The Pick: Grizzlies -3.5