The Memphis Grizzlies (11-14) and Los Angeles Clippers (6-19) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. EST from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The game will be broadcast live on FDSSC.
The Clippers are 3.5-point favorites over the Grizzlies on the spread (Clippers -3.5), with the over/under set at 227.5 total points. Los Angeles is a 60-cent favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Memphis is priced at 40 cents to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Grizzlies vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 15.
My Grizzlies vs Clippers Prediction
- Grizzlies vs Clippers pick: Grizzlies +3.5 or better
My Clippers vs Grizzlies pick is on Memphis to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at Fanatics Markets. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Grizzlies vs Clippers Odds
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Grizzlies vs Clippers NBA Preview
The Clippers' season has spiraled out of control as no one expected them to be 13 games under .500 and tied for the second-fewest wins (six) in the conference. Initially, the free-agent additions of Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez were viewed quite favorably, along with the acquisition of John Collins as part of a three-team trade.
Los Angeles received a B+ offseason grade from ESPN, while The Athletic opted for an even higher mark: A-.
However, controversy erupted before the start of their season when allegations surfaced that the Clippers used means outside the NBA salary cap to funnel payments through a team sponsor to their star forward, Kawhi Leonard.
While their 2-1 start looked promising, the Clippers were just 3-6 when they lost Beal to a season-ending hip injury. In his six games, Los Angeles went just 2-4 with Beal averaging 8.2 points, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 rebounds per game.
Thus, it's fair to say that his absence might be somewhat overstated.
Leonard has also spent some time on the sidelines, missing 10 of the Clippers' 25 games this season. However, the Clippers are just 4-11 in the games he's played.
The release of Paul, however, points to even greater problems within the organization.
Perhaps the most significant issue for the Clippers is that their veteran-laden roster plays an almost archaic style of basketball. Los Angeles plays at the second-slowest pace with 97.49 possessions per 48 minutes.
In comparison, the Grizzlies rank 10th in pace (101.54) and have the 11th-youngest roster in the league, with an average age of 25.4 years.
What many expected to be a strength for the Clippers might prove to be their Achilles heel, as this season looks like one that's quickly fading into oblivion.
Grizzlies vs Clippers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Although I'm shocked to see the Clippers as high as 3.5-point favorites, part of me feels that number still incorporates some of the preseason bias and expectations we had for Los Angeles.
Memphis has the kind of personnel that can give the Clippers fits, and my model makes this spread closer to -1.
For example, if you use Net Rating to compare these teams, Memphis has a +3.1 edge. Even when you add in the Clippers' home-court advantage, I don't see how the line gets to -3.5.
With Los Angeles a woeful 2-10 against the spread, I can only look to grab the points with the Grizzlies.
Pick: Grizzlies +3.5 or better
Clippers vs Grizzlies Betting Trends
