Memphis Grizzlies @ New Orleans Pelicans - March 9, 2025

Alright, folks! It’s game day, and I can feel the excitement buzzing through the city like a playoff atmosphere. The Memphis Grizzlies are rolling into the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans, and let me tell you, this matchup has all the makings of a classic showdown.

The Grizzlies come in as -10-point favorites, and honestly, it’s hard to argue against that line given their recent form. With a record of 39-24 SU and an impressive offensive output averaging nearly 123 points per game at a solid shooting percentage of 48.3%, they’ve been lighting up scoreboards left and right. Their ability to dish out assists (29 per game) shows they’re not just relying on individual talent; they’re playing team basketball.

Now, let’s talk about the Pelicans. They’ve had a rough go lately with a record of 17-47 SU and have dropped three straight games. Their offense is struggling to keep pace, averaging just over 110 points per game with a shooting percentage hovering around 45%. They’ve also been having issues with turnovers—losing over 14 per game—which is not ideal when facing a team like Memphis that thrives on capitalizing on mistakes.

Defensively, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Grizzlies grab more rebounds (about 47.5) than the Pelicans (43.4), which gives them an edge in controlling possession. However, Memphis does commit more fouls (around 21 per game), so if New Orleans can get to the line effectively—where they shoot about 75%—they might find some success there.

But here’s where it gets interesting: while Memphis has struggled against the spread recently (1-8-1 ATS in their last ten games), I believe they’ll cover tonight against a Pelicans team that simply hasn’t found its rhythm yet. The Grizzlies are coming off a solid win against Dallas where they covered as favorites, and I expect them to carry that momentum into this matchup.

As for the total? With both teams showing tendencies towards high-scoring affairs lately—the Pelicans have gone OVER in five of their last six games—I’m predicting we’ll see plenty of points tonight. Given how explosive Memphis can be offensively combined with New Orleans’ struggles defensively, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see this one soar past that opening total of 232.5.

So here’s my prediction: The Grizzlies will take care of business tonight against the Pelicans, covering that spread comfortably while pushing us well into OVER territory for total points scored. Grab your lucky jersey; it’s going to be an exciting night! Let’s go Grizz!