Grizzlies vs Nuggets Betting Preview: Grizzlies Look to Lock Down Jokic

Grizzlies the Team to Beat Out West

The Memphis Grizzlies are officially the top NBA team in the west as they travel to Denver looking to add another notch to their belt this season. Let’s dive into our Grizzlies vs Nuggets Betting Preview as we find the best value on the betting markets.

The Nuggets can move to the top of the Western Conference standings with a win as they come in having lost just one of their last four outings. The team will be hoping for some positive injury news, with three key pieces currently listed as questionable.

Meanwhile, injuries are finally clearing up for Memphis as they continue to string together an impressive run of games. Their interior defense has been the best in the league since Jaren Jackson Jr returned, but they’ll have arguably their toughest test in trying to slow down reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

The market opened with the Grizzlies as 2.0-point underdogs, but basketball injury updates have seen this shift to -1.5 in favor of the road team. The total for this one is set at 233.5 points.

Memphis Defense Reaching New Heights

The Grizzlies are back to being one of the most feared interior defenses in the league behind the play of Jackson Jr and Steven Adams.

The two were flawless in shutting down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks together and now the next big task awaits – slowing down Jokic.

Truthfully, there’s no stopping Jokic entirely because of how many different ways he can impact the game but minimizing how he operates in the paint is critical in containing this high-powered Denver offense.

In the 328 possessions where Jackson and Adams have shared the floor together the Grizzlies are allowing just 1.003 points per possession – ranking in the 99th percentile for defensive efficiency. They are also +27.1 points per 100 possessions better than their opponents when those two share the floor.

This test will be an entirely different one to any they’ve faced this nba season, but if they can again do their part in shutting down their opponents main point of attack the offense can play off that and attack downhill in transition where they remain one of the best in the league.

No team in the NBA scoreboard pressure on teams like Memphis with how their suffocating defense can turn into quick, easy offense and that could be what sways this game if they have their way against the two-time MVP inside.

Jokic Up for The Task

Despite the incredible defensive numbers that the Grizzlies possess when Adams and Jackson are manning the paint this isn’t something unfamiliar to Jokic.

Last season, the Serbian superstar averaged 29.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists against the Grizzlies where he had to tackle their defensive duo alone and with far less offensive assistance.

Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are both listed as questionable for this game and both have been integral parts to making this offense tick. If either is unable to play things shift drastically in favor of the Grizzlies given the lack of depth on this Nuggets roster.

Their second unit has often been their achilles heel this season and the non-Jokic minutes remain a problem for Mike Malone. That doesn’t bode well against a Memphis team that is as efficient and effective as any when their starters rest.

Looking at tonight’s NBA spreads the standout on the board is simply taking Memphis on the Moneyline. They are currently -125 and that number will move heavily in their favour if any of Denver’s starters miss this game through injury.

That’s all for our Grizzlies vs Nuggets Betting Preview but be sure to check back to find more NBA previews and best bets.
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