The Los Angeles Lakers (3-2) and Memphis Grizzlies (3-2) will meet in the group stage of the NBA Cup tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Lakers are 2.5-point favorites over the Grizzlies on the spread (Lakers -2.5), with the over/under set at 237.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -135 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Memphis is +115 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Lakers vs. Grizzlies predictions and NBA picks for Friday, October 31.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Prediction, Picks
- Lakers vs Grizzlies Pick: Cedric Coward Over 12.5 Points (+100, Fanatics)
My Grizzlies vs. Lakers best bet is on Cedric Coward over 12.5 points, with the best price currently available at Fanatics. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Odds for Friday, October 31
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -105 | 237.5 -110o / -110u | -135 |
| Grizzlies Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -115 | 237.5 -110o / -110u | +115 |
Los Angeles Lakers vs Memphis Grizzlies NBA Cup Preview
On Wednesday night, the Lakers held a double-digit lead for much of the second half in Minnesota before the Timberwolves erased it in the final seconds with a 14-2 run.
However, Austin Reaves called game with a runner at the buzzer to lift Los Angeles to the win.
Reaves finished with 28 points and 16 assists and is averaging 34.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 10 assists per game to start the season.
Reaves has carried the load for the Lakers with Luka Doncic and LeBron James sidelined.
However, Los Angeles may get Doncic back tonight, as he's listed as questionable with a left finger sprain and left leg contusion.
His return would be a big boost as the team heads to Memphis to open NBA Cup play.
Memphis also let a fourth-quarter lead slip away in Phoenix before Ja Morant hit a game-winning floater with 7.6 seconds remaining.
Morant is averaging 23.4 points and 6.6 assists per game this season, despite a cold start from three-point range.
The Grizzlies have a new backcourt partner for him after trading Desmond Bane to Orlando in the offseason, and rookie Cedric Coward, the 11th overall pick in June's NBA Draft, already looks like a steal.
Coward is averaging 16 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 65% from the field and cutting into Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's minutes.
If Doncic returns tonight, this game will feature three of the top five picks from the 2018 NBA Draft.
After a quiet debut against Golden State, Deandre Ayton has posted 15 points and eight rebounds in each of his past four games.
Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. has averaged over 22 points per game in each of the past two seasons, but has yet to crack 20 this year.
He'll have a favorable matchup against a Lakers team that he averaged 24.5 points per game against last season.
This game should feature plenty of scoring, as the Grizzlies rank third in pace and both teams sit outside the top 15 in defensive rating to start the season — which explains why tonight’s total is pushing toward 240 points.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Betting Predictions, Analysis
It's unrealistic to expect Coward to maintain his shooting splits (65/65/92) for the entire season, but he's off to a hot start to begin his career.
Averaging 16 points per game, he has scored 13 or more in four of his five contests.
Additionally, his minutes have increased from 22 in the opener to 28 in Wednesday's win over Phoenix.
Tonight, he faces a Lakers team that ranks 25th in three-pointers allowed per game and 27th in opponent three-point percentage.
Two makes from deep — something he's done in four of his first five games — would quickly put Coward halfway toward this line.
The Lakers have also been torched by wings this season, as Jaden McDaniels, Zach LaVine, Anthony Edwards, and Jimmy Butler have all scored 30 against them.
That makes 20+ points for Coward at +562 on DraftKings quite enticing.
Meanwhile, Caldwell-Pope is averaging 4.6 assists per game this season after being under two per game across his first 12 years in the league.
Bane averaged over five assists per game in his two seasons in Memphis, but has seen that number drop in Orlando.
It may be a product of the Grizzlies' system, but Caldwell-Pope has recorded at least three assists in all five games.
A few of those could go to Jaren Jackson Jr., who I like to notch his first 20-point game of the season tonight.
Pre-Doncic news, Lakers props are tricky to cap.
However, I like Reaves for six assists either way as he's hit that mark in four of his first five games.
If Doncic sits, I'd also look toward Reaves' points line.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Best Bet
- Cedric Coward Over 12.5 Points (+100)
Lakers vs Grizzlies Parlay Picks
- Jaren Jackson Jr. 20+ Points
- Austin Reaves 6+ Assists
- Cedric Coward Over 11.5 Points
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 3+ Assists
Parlay Payout: +800, DraftKings
Grizzlies vs Lakers Betting Trends
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