NBA 2022/23, on Tuesday, 21.03.2023
Among our NBA tips for today, there is one game where I would put my Memphis Grizzlies prediction in brackets, so to speak. For this should be “googled” again before placing a bet with a verified sports betting provider …
Everything fundamentally depends on the use of an elementary important player whose status has not yet been exactly determined. Because without superstar Luka Doncic, the home side’s strong defence could once again prove too robust and resilient for the Mavs.
What a win the Kyrie Irving trade was for the Mavs. On a night when Luka Doncic was missing due to injury and no player scored more than 12 points, you could hope for anything but a win in the past.
But on just such a night – yesterday’s against the Los Angeles Lakers – the Mavericks won 111-110 thanks to an unleashed Kyrie Irving, who visibly made life difficult for Anthony Davis with his 38 points.
What a performance by the enfant terrible of the NBA, who put Dallas back on the winning track with his monster performance.
Speaking of the enfant terrible: Ja Morant’s penalty on the Grizzlies’ side has now been determined – 8-game suspension.
Admittedly, Ja Morant got off very, very lightly for his escapade with his 8-game suspension. The NBA apparently believes in the prodigy and wants to give the Grizzlies superstar a chance to learn from his mistake.
Last season’s MIP will thus not be able to play tonight, which should already increase the Mavs’ chances of winning a little bit. Nevertheless, the Texans will have to find a way past the Grizzlies’ quite capable defence.
Memphis has won five of its last six NBA games without Ja Morant and, in the course of this successful series, hardly gave their upcoming opponents any room to develop their own offensive game in a 104-88 win.
With just 88 points, the Mavs were unable to counter the solid defence of the Dark Blues just a week ago – but that was to be expected with a starting five consisting of Bullock, Green, Powell, Hardy and Hardaway.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic were missing. Just bringing in the former will put a lot more points on the scoreboard tonight, but if the latter is also fit, I’m 100% convinced of a Mavs win.
The Slovenian has been missing from the Texans for four games already and could tip the scales in terms of my Grizzlies Mavericks tip. The injury is not serious, but his commitment is still not finalised.
If only Kyrie Irving plays, the game is guaranteed to be a heartbreaker, but one that the Grizzlies should again win by a narrow margin.
On the one hand, because I trust their proven defence even against absolute NBA superstars and on the other hand, because they could even set a new record in 2023 at FedExForum with their ninth NBA home win in a row.
However, I stand by this: The “Doncic factor” is such an important one for predicting the outcome of the game that its status should be determined even before placing one’s own bet. Currently, there is no clarity on this.
How important is Doncic for his team? Dallas has won each of its last four meetings against the Grizzlies in which the Slovenian was on the floor.
What’s more: In each of those four games, it was the 24-year-old who scored the most points for both teams. In the 137-96 win in October 2022, the All-Star player played a big part in the victory over the Grizzlies with 32 points.
No question, add a “Robin” to “Batman” tonight – in this case Kyrie Irving – and even the Dark Blue’s defence could completely collapse in the closing stages at the latest.
Consequently, the Grizzlies Mavericks odds of the new sports betting providers are not entirely meaningful in their current form – even if on average the home side is slightly favoured with win odds of 1.83 to 2.00 on average.
Nevertheless, should the Slovenian actually get fit – which I assume at this stage – the balance of power could change decisively, in favour of the Texans.
Conclusion: It will definitely be a closer game than a week ago, because at least the use of Kyrie Irving will ensure that the outcome of the game could only be decided when the final siren sounds.
However, the defence of the Dark Blues is extremely solid and could inflict the third defeat in the last two weeks on the Texans in this line-up.
If Luka Doncic doesn’t celebrate his successful comeback – which is still up in the air – I can imagine a ninth home win for the Memphis team.
Otherwise, the crowd at FedExForum can expect a Doncic-and-Irving performance that no Mavs fan should miss!
Nevertheless, my cautious Grizzlies Mavericks tip is: Victory for the Memphis Grizzlies.
