Lakers vs Grizzlies Odds, Picks for Game 5 | NBA Playoffs Betting Preview & Predictions April 26

Lakers vs. Grizzlies Odds

Game 4 off this series ended in dramatic fashion. It also began in dramatic fashion. The whole game was dramatic, but in the end, the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed in overtime.

More groins were punched and bears were poked, but the Memphis Grizzlies seemed to run out of gas and now face elimination in Game 5. Can the desperate Grizzlies stave off the surging Lakers, or will LeBron James and company move on to Round 2?

Let’s preview the odds and matchup, including a prediction for Lakers vs Grizzlies in Game 5.

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Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers came out with a fire, taking an early lead in the first quarter and extending it to start the second. But Memphis stormed back to keep it close going into halftime.

In the fourth quarter, it was the Lakers turn to storm back, as it has been all season. Los Angeles has the best fourth-quarter record in the league (59-27 ATS) and it isn’t even close (the Sixers are second at 53-33, according to EV Analytics).

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 23 points — the type of team-leading output more appropriate for a low-total series like Cavaliers-Knicks — as made shots were hard to find for both sides. In fact, Reaves was just 7-of-16 from the field.

Unders have been the trend for these teams. It took overtime to go over the total by four points, thanks to a strong defensive effort by both squads. It also didn't help that the Lakers shot 27.8% from behind the arc, while the Grizzlies shot just 21.4% from 3-point range.

I lean to the over here since I think Memphis will try to outrun the older Lakers, but the head-to-head trends point overwhelmingly to an under (15-5 to the under in their past 20 meetings).

Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant played through the injured wrist he sustained in Game 1, but it clearly impacted his shooting ability. He scored 19 points, but it took him 24 shots to get there. Even Desmond Bane, who led all Grizzlies with 36, needed 29 shots on just 13 made field goals.

The Grizzlies have struggled all season with their half-court offense and this series has been no different. Games 1 and 2 were their best performances, but they still ranked in just the 56th and 53rd percentile. In Game 3, they had a truly horrific Offensive Rating of 72.7 (which ranks in the first percentile) and in Game 4 it was only a little better (76.8), according to Cleaning the Glass.

Despite their offensive woes, the Grizzlies have brought the defense — especially in the first half. Including the regular season, Memphis is the best first-half home team at 53-32-1 ATS.

Even in losses this series, the Grizzlies have done well in the first half. Their infamous nine-point quarter was the worst all year, but outside of that game, they’ve covered the first half in every game against the Lakers in this series and in seven of their past 10.

Lakers-Grizzlies Pick

The Grizzlies showed fatigue late in Game 4, but they’re young and resilient. I think there’s a good chance the Lakers will be the ones to show fatigue in Game 5. This is a huge spot for the Grizzlies.

I bet them to cover the full-game number at -4, but given their troubles in the second half, that’s where I’d stop.

I really like the Grizzlies to take care of business in the first half. They desperately need this game and don’t have the firepower to win without starting the game hot. I’ll take their first-half line to -3.

But the Lakers are the best fourth quarter team in the league. If Memphis is winning a close game late, I’ll live bet the Lakers spread after the third quarter. Follow me in the Action app to see how I live bet Game 5 (AOWatts).

Pick: Grizzlies -2.5 1H (-110) Bet to -3 | Grizzlies -4 | Live bet Lakers if they're losing a close game after the third quarter

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