Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers: Odds, Betting Preview and NBA Picks

Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant prepares to face his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, in a surprising matchup of unbeaten squads. ET, with Portland opening as a 7.5-point home favorite according to cbssports.com.

What makes this Thursday night matchup between Memphis and Portland unique?

When the league schedule dropped over the summer, this late October contest looked like a routine mid-fall game. Instead, it features two of the final three unbeaten teams in the Western Conference. Adding plenty of emotional friction, the game marks Portland guard Ja Morant’s first appearance against the franchise that traded him back in June, as reported by cbssports.com.

#NBA Picks | Grizzlies vs Trail BlazersProjected score: Trail Blazers 121–116 GrizzliesLean: Trail Blazers to winPlayer projections:Damian Lillard 27 pointsJa Morant 24 points, 8 assistsTy Jerome 25 pointsPortland has the more dangerous late-game backcourt. Damian…
— https://x.com/Krystal_xbt/status/2115947634225782882

Morant arrives after an exit from Memphis following the trade that sent him to Portland. Now settled into a complementary role alongside veteran superstar Damian Lillard, Morant is averaging 16.3 points and 6.3 assists on 58.8% shooting.

Portland is backed by strong early performances under recently hired head coach Micah Nori.

How have the Grizzlies managed to start the season 4-0 despite a roster rebuild?

While Portland’s early success aligns with a talented roster, the Grizzlies’ 4-0 start catches plenty of analysts off guard. Following the departures of Morant and Jaren Jackson, the franchise entered a transitional phase.

The primary engine driving Memphis through the first week of play is journeyman guard Ty Jerome. Jerome currently leads the league in second-half scoring with 19.0 points and fourth-quarter scoring with 10.0 points among qualified players.

Despite the flawless record, advanced metrics suggest the Grizzlies may be playing slightly over their heads. All four of their opening opponents currently sit well below the .500 mark.

What do the betting odds and historical trends indicate for Thursday’s game?

DraftKings Sportsbook lists Portland as a 7.5-point home favorite, drawing roughly 86% of the betting handle and 82% of the total tickets. The Over/Under point total is set at 232.5, with heavy leanings toward the Over. Meanwhile, basketball-reference.com box score archives show that Portland took three out of four games against Memphis last season and has claimed the last three home meetings in the head-to-head series.

For Memphis, Thursday night concludes a grueling four-game road trip. Historical context points to a difficult test for the visitors, as the franchise has not swept a road trip lasting four games or longer since November 2013, according to cbssports.com. A predictive model run by SportsLine projects a 117-111 victory for the Trail Blazers.