Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA Play-In Tournament, 4/18
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and a blowout victory for the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday that set us up for the very last elimination game before the official start of the NBA playoffs. So, to enjoy it to the fullest, we’ve shared our best Mavericks vs. Grizzlies predictions with you.
To make the most of the best bet from our Mavericks vs. Grizzlies picks, we’ll also take you through how you can quickly snag a new, guaranteed Sleeper Fantasy promo code bonus!
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Predictions For Tonight NBA Play-In Tournament, 4/18
When it comes to which fan base is likely most excited to be in this spot, even with it being a stressful one, we’d have to imagine that it’s the Grizz. That’s thanks to Memphis going 3-1 against Dallas this season, and from a betting standpoint, they had the same 3-1 record against the spread.
However, it may not be quite as clearcut as that, as one of those games was a battle of backups to close out the season when both teams already knew their fate. Many fans are also wondering - how many times did the Mavericks play the Grizzlies without Luka Doncic? The answer to that would be two, again, with that final matchup being one of them.
With how much has changed in Dallas and how up-and-down Memphis has been, we have a very isolated approach for the best bet from our Mavericks vs. Grizzlies predictions with a player prop.
Dallas Mavericks: Klay Exercises His Demons
Speaking of individual players, perhaps the most polarizing and interesting storyline following the Mavs win over the Kings was surrounding Klay Thompson. The former Golden State Warrior is all too familiar with the Sacramento opponent, and in about the worst way possible. In his final game as a Warrior, he had arguably the worst game of his career.
It was actually last year’s Play-In Tournament where Klay scored ZERO points in 32 minutes after going 0-for-10 from the field and 0-for-6 from three. He even had a three-point game against the Kings just over a month ago! So, going 8-for-11 and 5-for-7 from deep on Wednesday was a great relief for him.
Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant Injury Status
To continue the theme of household names, the big news following the Grizzlies loss on Tuesday was that of Ja Morant’s injury. The young superstar being off the court has been a frustration in Memphis for more reasons than more, but as for the most recent, it’s Tuesday's ankle injury.
Ja Morant left in the third quarter with that injury, but to the pleasure of Grizz fans, was able to return. Of course, he still had to make headlines by being rather, let’s call it “quick,” to the media after the game. He kept it nice and simple with, “I’m playing. That’s basically the answer I’m giving.”
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
After we shared Memphis’ success over Dallas this season, you may not be too surprised to see the Mavericks vs. Grizzlies odds heavily favoring them:
- Point Spread: Dallas Mavericks +6.5 (-110) vs. Memphis Grizzlies -6.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Dallas Mavericks (+215) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (-265)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 222.5 (-110) vs. Under 222.5 (-110)
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Best Bet: Jaren Jackson Over 20.5 Points (Target His Player Card At Sleeper Fantasy)
After all the discussion about Klay Thompson and Ja Morant, you’d think that’s where we’re headed for the best bet from our Mavericks vs. Grizzlies predictions, right? Think again - we’re grabbing what we see as great value with a player not all fans are locked in on.
That would be Memphi’s Jaren Jackson The 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is more than just great at locking down opponents - he can do his fair share of scoring as well. We’re getting some solid value here after the Grizzlies forward scored 18 points in back-to-back games, but he has the ability to double that.
In his last three games against Dallas, Jackson Jr. has averaged just under 31 points per game, and in his last six games against the Mavs, he’s scored fewer than 28 points just twice, and one of those was a game in which he played just 14 minutes. Before you even say it - yes, we know that Dallas now has Anthony Davis.
No problem - the last two games Jaren Jackson faced the Los Angeles Lakers before AD was traded? He scored 29 and 25 points. With Ja Morant at least not 100%, this is a prime spot for him to step up, so we love Jaren Jackson over 20.5 points (use his player projection at Sleeper Fantasy) as the best bet from our Mavericks vs. Grizzlies predictions.
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Injury Report & Starting Lineups
Undoubtedly, the biggest Mavericks vs. Grizzlies injury news is the status of Ja Morant, but again, he is fully expected to be on the court tonight. Outside of that, Memphis being without Jaylen Wells is still a notable blow to their lineup. Of course, so too is Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL for Dallas.
We’ve known about those concerns for quite some time, so here are the Mavericks vs. Grizzlies lineups for tonight:
DAL Mavericks:
MEM Grizzlies:
How To Target Mavericks vs. Grizzlies At Sleeper Fantasy & Claim Your $100 Bonus With Code ALARM
As for another way to enjoy the game outside the traditional Mavericks vs. Grizzlies odds, especially with us focusing on a player prop, Sleeper Fantasy offers daily player pick ‘ems, and here’s how to score their new $100 welcome bonus:
- Sign up here for a new Sleeper account
- Enter our Sleeper promo code ALARM
- Make a first-time deposit for up to $100
- Receive 100% of the value in bonus funds
Therefore, you’ll instantly be doubling the amount that you have to set lineups with! You can add any player picks you’d like to our Jaren Jackson pick, but get the ball rolling by clicking here to activate our exclusive Sleeper promo code ALARM!
Looking for more NBA picks and strategy? From props to playoff insights, we’ve got you covered.
Fantasy Alarm is your go-to for expert NBA coverage. Join the conversation in our Discord and don’t miss our breakdowns on YouTube and X.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.