Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday as the top-seeded club hosts the No. 8-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. Mitchell, whose 26.4 points per game average tied for No. 10 in the NBA, missed the last 16 games of the regular season because of a right ankle sprain. Mitchell practiced three consecutive days but was held out by the team's medical staff for Game 1 against the Grizzlies. The Jazz squandered a double-digit lead and lost 112-109 to a Grizzlies club that has now won eight of its last nine.
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah is a 9.5-point favorite and the over-under for total points scored is 219 in the latest Grizzlies vs. Jazz odds from William Hill Sportsbook. Before you make any Jazz vs. Grizzlies picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $800 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the first full week of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 99-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen massive returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Grizzlies vs. Jazz in the NBA Playoffs 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Jazz vs. Grizzlies:
- Grizzlies vs. Jazz spread: Jazz -9.5
- Grizzlies vs. Jazz over-under: 219 points
- Grizzlies vs. Jazz money line: Jazz -500, Grizzlies +400
- MEM: The Grizzlies have covered seven of their last nine games as a road underdog
- UTAH: The Jazz are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games when playing on two days' rest
Why the Jazz can cover
The Jazz will no doubt benefit from the expected return of Mitchell, their high-scoring superstar who was a game-time scratch in Game 1 because of a lingering sprained ankle. Mitchell averaged 26.4 points and 5.2 assists in 53 regular-season games played. The Jazz could have used their leader in the series opener as clumsy execution and poor shooting led to a downfall in a game in which they bolted out to a 14-point lead before falling apart. Utah shot just 12-of-47 from 3-point range (25.5 percent) and its lack of ball security led to 16 turnovers.
Even so, the Jazz can be encouraged that, even without Mitchell, they rallied from 17 points down to make it a one-possession game in the final minute. Bojan Bogdanovic led the way with 29 points, and his five late free throws pulled the Jazz within three. Six Utah players scored in double figures.
Why the Grizzlies can cover
The Grizzlies' late-season surge represents a stunning about-face to one year ago when it appeared their youth and inexperience were the key factors in coming up one game short of a playoff bid. Last year they struggled down the stretch in the bubble, losing seven of nine with six of the defeats coming by 10 or fewer points. Many observers expected those struggles to continue for at least another year, and it didn't help that budding star Jaren Jackson Jr. missed most of the season because of a knee injury suffered in the bubble. However, Ja Morant evolved from a flashy rookie phenom to a skilled leader who has proven capable of being the club's consistent closer.
Moreover, Dillon Brooks has quietly developed into a reliable force. The Oregon product averaged 17.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals, while also emerging as a lock-down defender. In the opening play-in game against the Spurs, Brooks limited San Antonio scoring leader DeMar DeRozan to 5-of-21 shooting.
How to make Jazz vs. Grizzlies picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 221 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Grizzlies vs. Jazz? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
