Grizzlies vs Raptors Betting Lines Preview: Memphis Roar Into Toronto

Grizzlies Slightly Favored in Trip to Toronto

The Memphis Grizzlies can get a much-needed win in their trip to Toronto Raptors if the Grizzlies vs Raptors betting lines prove accurate. Memphis has dropped four of its last five games all against a Western opponent. It comes just as superstar Ja Morant openly mentioned he was “fine in the West”. But against the East, Memphis is much better.

Grizzlies are Fine in the West, Better in the East

Morant will likely never see the end of the jabs against him due to how things are going. Memphis defeated Phoenix Suns prior to that comment. Then it dropped its next two games, both high-profile matchups against shorthanded versions of Golden State Warriors and a rematch versus Phoenix.

The Grizzlies are just 9-10 (6-12-1 against the spread (ATS) in their conference but are 11-3 (9-4-1 ATS) against the East. This is a notable split in their East/West conference NBA standings.

Memphis currently sits third in the West with a 20-13 record and it owes more than half of its wins in non-conference games. To its credit, many of its victories have come against tough competition: Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers just to name a few.

However, there is a caveat here: most of the Grizzlies’ games against the East have come from Memphis. When traveling to the East, the Grizzlies are just 2-2 on both the NBA point spread and moneyline. This is an NBA team that has the second-worst cover rate on the road at 4-12-1 ATS.

The Grizzlies’ net rating is just -3.7, which is 19th in the NBA. Last NBA season, the team was 1.8 and ninth in that category. So maybe Memphis will bump up this number when it beats up a few weak Eastern teams on the road. You’d think that, then you see that they lost to the Bradley Beal-less Wizards and an 8-9 Brooklyn Nets team.

Still, Memphis is at full strength with the likes of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane slated to play. The Grizzlies vs Raptors betting lines rightfully favor Memphis as their opponent has been struggling even more.

Raptors Face an Inevitable Reality

At four games under .500, the Raptors cling on to the final play-in spot in the East. With that said, Toronto is just a pair of losses away from dropping to 13th in the East. This team is now facing a crossroads where it will have to decide whether it is more of a rebuilding team or a contender.

The Raptors’ last two seasons were stark contrasts. They made the playoffs as a fifth seed last season but “tanked” in the season prior. All-NBA player Pascal Siakam and All-Star Fred VanVleet are still playing at high levels. OG Anunoby, while he has yet to become the star he’s been expected to be, is playing well enough to attract plenty of attention elsewhere.

“The entire league wants OG Anunoby,” “Everybody wants OG Anunoby. If he ever gets traded, the price and picks are going to surprise people because it might be on par almost with what the Cavs gave up for Donovan Mitchell. It’s going to be a lot if it ever happens.” NBA analyst Zach Lowe said on his podcast.

That may be hyperbole on Lowe’s part, but if the Raptors do sell at the deadline, Anunoby may be the first to go. The sixth-year pro is still just 25 and already leads the NBA in minutes per game (37) and steals per game (2.2). Offensively, Toronto is 11-6 when he scores at least 18 points (his average).

If Toronto is to go on a run, Anunoby should figure into the offense more. That may be tough to implement when Siakam and VanVleet are mainly running the show. And with Toronto having lost seven of its last nine games, the team can drop out of the playoff race altogether.

It could continue per the Grizzlies vs Raptors betting lines. The Raptors are just 4-6 against the West (1-4 ATS in their last five).

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