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Grizzlies, Nets look to add to win streaks
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 3/5/2014  at  5:47:00 AM
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (34-25)

at BROOKLYN NETS (29-29)

Tip-off: Wednesday, 7:35 p.m. ET
Line: Memphis -1.5, Total: 189

Two teams playing excellent basketball meet on Wednesday night when the Grizzlies visit the Nets.

Memphis has won three of its past four games, including its most recent 110-104 road victory over the Wizards on Monday. The Grizzlies have been scoring the ball extremely well recently, averaging 108.8 PPG over their past four contests, which is quite a jump from the 95.7 PPG they average this season. Considering Memphis allows just 95.1 PPG (3rd in NBA) on the season, it's easy to see why the team is surging with seven wins in its past nine games. The Grizzlies are also 16-11 SU (16-10-1 ATS) on the road this season. The Nets have also been playing well lately and their 96-80 home victory over the Bulls on Monday marked their third straight victory and improved their record to 17-11 SU (15-13 ATS) at Barclays Center. Brooklyn has destroyed all three of these opponents during the win streak, scoring 105.0 PPG and allowing just 89.0 PPG. When these two teams last met on Nov. 30, the Nets won 97-88 as 7.5-point road underdogs in Memphis. Despite that loss, the Grizzlies are still 3-1 (SU and ATS) in this series over the past three seasons. Memphis is 15-1 ATS after scoring 100 points or more in two straight games over the past two seasons, but Brooklyn is 18-10 ATS after one or more consecutives Unders this season. PF James Johnson (ankle) is questionable for the Grizzlies in this game, but there are no other significant injuries.

Which team will extend its winning streak on Wednesday? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season. The five StatFox experts have been heating up in NBA Best Bets recently with a 58% ATS record (46-34-1) since Feb. 10. StatFox Dave has a stellar 59% ATS (39-27-1) Best Bets record since Dec. 1 and is 54% ATS (49-41-1) on Best Bets for the season. StatFox Brian remains red-hot, going 68% ATS (19-9-1) since Jan. 25 and 60% ATS (34-23-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 12. StatFox Zach has a strong 56% ATS mark (35-28-3) on Best Bets since Dec. 1.

The Grizzlies opened their three-game road trip with a six-point win at Washington. PF Tayshaun Prince (6.3 PPG) turned in his best performance of the season, playing 30 minutes and finishing with a season-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. PG Mike Conley (17.6 PPG, 6.3 APG) also played well for Memphis with 20 points (7-of-14 FG) and seven assists. Conley will need to use his speed to exploit Nets PG Deron Williams, who hasn’t been the same this season as he has dealt with a number of injuries. Conley had 16 points and 10 assists in the last game against the Nets on Nov. 30. Memphis was playing without both PF Zach Randolph (17.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG) and C Marc Gasol (13.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG) in that game, and the presence of both of these talented frontcourt players will be huge in this rematch. Memphis was also without SG Courtney Lee (10.1 PPG), who was acquired later acquired in a trade. Lee has been outstanding for the Grizzlies since they got him, averaging 13.3 PPG (50% FG, 37% threes) and 3.1 RPG, and his athleticism on the wing should help against a slow Nets team.

Brooklyn has won three straight games and is looking to get above .500 with a win on Wednesday. The last time the Nets played the Grizzlies, PG Deron Williams (14.0 PPG, 6.4 APG) was out with a sore left ankle. SG Joe Johnson (14.9 PPG) had a huge game to lift Brooklyn to a victory, finishing with 26 points (9-of-15 FG), six assists and five rebounds in 41 minutes. Johnson will have a matchup with a much quicker Courtney Lee in this go-around, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can repeat that performance. C Andray Blatche (11.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG) is averaging 15.0 PPG and 9.0 RPG for the Nets over the past two games, and he was also excellent in the last win over Memphis, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-10 FG (3-of-3 threes) with eight rebounds in just 22 minutes of work. Blatche will need to use his big body to bang with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who should make it much more difficult on Blatche to repeat when he did in the first meeting. SF Paul Pierce (13.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG) has come on strong for Brooklyn recently, averaging 15.0 PPG and 6.4 RPG over the past five contests. Pierce will need to be on his game if the Nets are going to get this victory over Memphis.


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