LA Lakers versus Memphis Grizzlies Pick Prediction NBA Pro Basketball Line Odds Preview 4-5-2013

The 51-24 Memphis Grizzlies will hit the highway to face the 39-36 LA Lakers in an NBA pro basketball game on Friday night. Tip off time from Staples Center in Los Angeles is scheduled for 10:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by the NBA League Pass Channel. The NBA odds from this game has the home team LA Lakers favored by -2 ½ points with an over under line of 194 points. There has been no line movement since the odds came out a few hours ago. The teams have met twice this season with the Grizzlies winning and covering the spread in both games which were all held at Memphis. Each game went over the total. Memphis has a road record of 21-16 on the year. The Grizzlies win their fourth straight after a 94-76 road victory against the Portland Trailblazers as a -7 ½ point betting favorite. The game ended under 189 points. The Grizzlies held the Trailblazers to just 30 second half points that were playing without leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge. They enjoyed a 50.7% shooting game and made 4 of 12 three pointers. Memphis held Portland to 41.2% shooting and forced 19 Trailblazers turnovers. Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 20 points and five assists as he made 7 of his 11 shots. Memphis is an outstanding defensive team as they rank first in the NBA in scoring defense by allowing 89.8 points a game. Over their past four games the Grizzlies are giving up just 86 points a game. The team is battling the Denver Nuggets for the third seed in the Western conference as the teams are tied with just seven games remaining. The loser in this chase will fall to the fifth seed behind likely Pacific Division champion LA Clippers. The Lakers are 24-12 playing at home. The team has won two straight after a 101-81 home victory on Tuesday to the Dallas Mavericks as a -3 ½ point betting favorite. The game landed under 207 ½ points. It was a good start for LA as they go up 55-40 at the half. The Lakers shot 44.4% from the field and made just 8 of 24 three pointers. They held the Mavericks to 42% shooting and LA crushed Dallas on the glass by a 57-37 margin. Center Dwight Howard led LA with 24 points and 12 rebounds as he made 7 of his 12 shots. The Lakers have defended better in recent games giving up less than 100 point in their past two games. LA holds a ½ game lead over the Utah Jazz for the eighth seed with only seven games remaining. The only way the Lakers get into the playoffs if they defend. Trying to outscore everyone with an old team will not get it done.