Chicago Bulls vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/7/2023

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

Where to watch: BSSE-MEM, NBCSCH

DraftKings: Grizzlies -7.5

FanDuel: Grizzlies -7

BetMGM: Grizzlies -7.5

Caesars: Grizzlies -7.5

Bulls: 26-27

Grizzlies: 32-21

The All-Stars have been announced, the trade deadline is days away, and the NBA season has never seen so much parity and intrigue than it has at this moment. All you need to do is look at the Western Conference and laugh with a hearty burst at how ridiculous this season has been. You know what's not ridiculous? Our champion handicappers continuing to kill it on the NBA level over the last 30 days. All you need to do is take one look at what they're doing and see that this is the place to be as we purge through the second half of the season. Doc's Sports has been tremendous over the last month with a 17-8-0 run and net profit of $8,100. Team Del Genio has also been very good at an 11-6-1 run that has made for some very exciting runs near to the top. Basketball is taking full swing with football about to be set on the back burner, and you want to be locked in at bigal.com. Take advantage of our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what our champion handicappers bring to the table. Make sure you're following winners at bigal.com and get that same kind of money in your pocket.

Bulls: won 128-104 vs. Spurs

Grizzlies: lost 106-103 vs. Raptors

The trade deadline clock continues to tick down for the Chicago Bulls, who seem to be taking calls for whomever they want whenever they want and doing so in a fashion time. But at least a good thing right now for Chicago is that the Arabs found ways to win games as of late by winning three of their last four. But Chicago will try to make it a fourth win in five games when they visit FedEx forum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, who are in complete freefall mode at this current point in time.

 

Chicago has been on A roll as of late not only defeating teams that they should, but beating teams that are considered playoff teams in all three universes to the pleasantries of the basketball gods. Chicago is coming off what would be considered an impressive 129-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Despite Damian Lillard going for 40 points and continuing his stretch of play that eventually led him to be the Western Conference player of the week, it was Chicago's balanced attack behind its big three that led the way for a victory.

 

Zach LaVine have a team high 36 points to go with six rebounds and five assists, and DeMar DeRozan followed suit with 27 points. Even Nikola Vucevic had an impactful double double with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Bulls shot a staggering 60% from the field and just 12 of 26 from 3 point range.

 

“We were able to get in transition, get some easy baskets,” LaVine said. “Then when they started doubling, it was just picking it out where the rotation was.”

 

One thing we can ultimately define for sure as it retains to Chicago. They are not the same team as they were last season. And I think it is difficult for any team to withstand that pace over another 62 game season. And as a result they have put themselves in a position to where they need dominant play at some point.

 

As for Memphis, I have absolutely no idea what to make of this program. They get off to such a strong start and everyone wants to call them vital contenders, but for the love of God Memphis has got to start finding a way to start winning. They have lost seven of their last nine with the latest being the 106-103 loss tothe Toronto Raptors at home.

 

Without Ja Morant, the Grizzlies got 26 points from Desmond Bane, and 18 points and four blocks from All-Star big man.

 

“I think just valuing every possession,” Bane said. “Understanding the magnitude of every possession for a full 48 minutes, but especially down the stretch. When it comes down to it, we've got to be able to rebound the basketball and not allow teams to get second chances.”

 

Chicago has not covered in the last four meetings and Chicago is getting 7.5 points in this matchup, and that's not even just say that Memphis will have Morant in the lineup. Even if he can't go, this is the game that Chicago should very much cover. For the fact that he's not just makes you accept it. Bulls 115, Grizzlies 110

Bulls are 12-4 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 and 9.5 this season.

Bulls are 12-6 ATS as a road underdog this season.

Grizzlies are 52-28 ATS against non-conference opponents the last 3 seasons.

PG: Ayo Dosunmu

SG: Zach LaVine

SF: DeMar DeRozan

PF: Patrick Williams

C: Nikola Vucevic

PG: Ja Morant

SG: Desmond Bane

SF: Ziaire Williams

PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.

C: Brandon Clarke

Injury report

Bulls: Alex Caruso (foot, questionable), Lonzo Ball (knee, out)

Grizzlies:  Dillon Brooks (suspended), Ja Morant (wrist, questionable), Steven Adams (knee, out)

Points: DeMar DeRozan -- 26.0

Rebounds: Nikola Vucevic -- 11.2

Assists: DeMar DeRozan -- 5.0

Points: Ja Morant -- 27.3

Rebounds: Steven Adams -- 11.5

Assists: Ja Morant -- 8.3