Hawks vs. Grizzlies Odds, Pick, Prediction: Bet Ja Morant, Memphis to Cover (December 12)

Hawks vs. Grizzlies Odds

The Memphis Grizzlies may be the hottest team in basketball at the moment, taking out some good teams in the last couple of weeks and covering the spread along the way. They'll try to pick the bones of the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, a team that rolls in on the second night of a taxing back-to-back.

Should the number be this big, though? Let's take a look at how much separates these two teams in this particular spot.

Hawks in Tough Back-to-Back Spot

The Hawks went to war on Sunday night, and have to turn around on no rest to back up the victory in Memphis. Atlanta is 1-1-1 this season against the spread on the second night of a back-to-back, meaning under Nate McMillan it is now 7-11-1 ATS in these spots.

This should be an even tougher test considering the Hawks watched as a halftime lead evaporated, only to rally back and force overtime. The extra minutes coupled with the energy required to come back on the Chicago Bulls should make for a tough recovery.

A troubling statistic heading into this particular tilt would be that Atlanta has now collected fewer than 46% of available rebounds in two of its last three contests. We'll get to it in a second, but the Grizzlies are clearly in a class of their own when it comes to battling on the glass. Atlanta is getting pushed around by some weak frontcourts right now, and it's coincided with an injury to John Collins, who was vital to its success up front.

The Hawks have been a tough team to back away from Atlanta. They're 5-8 straight up on the road this season and under McMillan are 10-25-1 ATS as road underdogs. The deck seems to be stacked against them here.

Grizzlies, When Healthy, Are Rolling

It's hard to find a bone to pick here with the Grizzlies. Just once since Nov. 22 have they suffered a loss against the spread, and it happened to be the only game they lost straight up as well. They're now 9-3-1 ATS at home and 7-3-1 ATS as the home favorite.

One potential hangup here is the injury situation for Memphis. Both Ja Morant and Steven Adams are questionable for this one, which could really change the identity of this team. Neither injury seems all that serious, but it could make sense to wait on word about the pair before making a move on this line.

Morant is, of course, one of the premiere scorers in the NBA and has added around 13 points per 100 possessions this season for Memphis. Adams is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, especially on the offensive end when it comes to getting second chance opportunities.

Even without Adams on the floor, though, the Grizzlies are still collecting 49% of available rebounds this season. They are a loaded group in the frontcourt and should be able to make their impact on this game regardless of whether or not Adams is in, but the pair of them could make for a tricky ask.

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Hawks-Grizzlies Pick

I don't know what the Hawks have in the tank here, and I'm incredibly concerned right now about the state of their frontcourt. The loss of Collins has really hurt, and it's not as if Capela has been giving Atlanta great play down low, anyway.

Memphis is just outside the top 10 in the league in points per game allowed to opposing point guards, which just makes me feel even better about this spot. The Grizzlies should be able to control Trae Young with their group of talented perimeter defenders, and they should easily win the battle on the glass with or without two big names.

I would recommend waiting for the news to ensure the best line, but I'm comfortable laying up to 10 points at the moment.

Pick: Grizzlies -8