The Memphis Grizzlies visit TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics on Super Bowl Sunday. Memphis is 34-21 overall this season, sitting at No. 2 in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies face a Celtics team that leads the Eastern Conference with a 40-16 overall record after three consecutive victories. Jaylen Brown (face) and Marcus Smart (ankle) are out for the Celtics, with Malcolm Brogdon (achilles) listed as probable. Steven Adams (knee) is out for the Grizzlies.
Tip-off is at 2 p.m. ET in Boston. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Celtics as 3.5-point favorites at home, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 226.5 in the latest Grizzlies vs. Celtics odds. Before you make any Celtics 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 well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 52-28 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Grizzlies vs. Celtics and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines and trends for Celtics vs. Grizzlies:
- Grizzlies vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -3.5
- Grizzlies vs. Celtics over/under: 226.5 points
- Grizzlies vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -165, Grizzlies +140
- MEM: The Grizzlies are 9-17-1 against the spread in road games
- BOS: The Celtics are 16-13 against the spread in home games
- Grizzlies vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Grizzlies can cover
Memphis has elite traits on both sides of the floor. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in points in the paint on offense, averaging 59.3 per game. Memphis is also No. 2 in the league in offensive rebound rate (32.4%) and in the top five in second-chance points (16.1 per game) and fast break points (17.7 per game). The Grizzlies use physicality to generate more than 25 free throw attempts per game, and Boston is poor at creating turnovers, producing only 12.6 takeaways per game on defense.
On the other end, Memphis is No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rating (109.6) and No. 1 in field goal percentage allowed (44.9%). Opponents are shooting only 51.2% inside the arc against the Grizzlies, and Memphis has top-four marks in blocks (6.0 per game) and steals (8.4 per game). Overall, Memphis forces 15.3 turnovers per game, and opponents score only 47.3 points in the paint per game against the Grizzlies.
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has an elite offense, ranking in the top three of the NBA in overall efficiency, free throw accuracy, and 3-pointers per game amid tremendous balance. The Celtics are also undervalued and tremendous on defense, giving up only 110.5 points per 100 possessions. Boston leads the league with a 75.0% defensive rebound rate, and the Celtics give up only 12.8 second-chance points per game. That defensive rebounding resistance is crucial against Memphis, and Boston also leads the league in free throw prevention, yielding only 20.6 attempts per game.
The Celtics are in the top five in opponent shooting, giving up 46.5% shooting from the field, 35.1% from 3-point range, and 52.9% from inside the arc. Boston also ranks in the top eight in blocked shots (5.4 per game) and points allowed in the paint (48.1 per game), with Memphis showing some vulnerabilities on offense. The Grizzlies have the worst free throw percentage (72.0%) in the NBA, and Memphis shoots only 34.4% from 3-point range while committing 14.6 turnovers per game.
How to make Grizzlies vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 234 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Grizzlies? And which side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
