Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers NBA picks: Portland's Ja Morant could get payback in battle of unbeaten teams — SkimNews
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- Trail Blazers are 3-0, only their second 3-0 start in 15 seasons, and lead the NBA at 129.3 points per game, 45.7 made field goals and a 2.24 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Ja Morant faces his former team after Portland acquired him in June for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray; he is averaging 16.3 points on 58.8% shooting with 6.3 assists, with a 24.5 points-plus-assists prop and a model projection of 18.4 points and 5.9 assists.
- Damian Lillard returned after missing last season with an injury suffered in his final Milwaukee year and is averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists alongside Morant in Portland’s backcourt.
- Ty Jerome is carrying Memphis’ 4-0 start with a 29.8-point average, more than triple his 9.7-point career mark; he leads eligible scorers at 19.0 points per second half and 10.0 per fourth quarter and is +600 for Most Improved Player.
- Memphis Grizzlies are playing above their rebuild billing: all four opponents are well under .500, and Memphis led at halftime and made more threes in every game while shooting 39.1% and holding opponents to 32.4%; Utah also had Jaren Jackson and Lauri Markkanen leave in the first half of Monday’s 110-105 loss.
- DraftKings Sportsbook makes Portland a 7.5-point home favorite with a 232.5-point total; Portland draws 86% of the money and 82% of the tickets at -7.5, while bettors lean similarly toward the Over.
- Portland won three of four meetings with Memphis last season and the past three at home; Memphis is ending a four-game road trip, while the cited model projects a 117-111 Portland win.
Why it matters: Portland is the market consensus at -7.5, backed by 86% of the money and 82% of the tickets, but Memphis is 4-0 after trades involving Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson. The cited 117-111 projection is a six-point Portland margin, 1.5 points narrower than the line, making the teams’ records—not the revenge narrative—the sharper reason to scrutinize the price.
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