by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Jan 29, 2023
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Venue: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
Where to watch: BSSE-MEM, BSIN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Grizzlies -9.5; MEM -305, IND +255
FanDuel: Grizzlies -9.5; MEM -375, IND +300
BetMGM: Grizzlies -9.5; MEM -375, IND +300
Caesars: NL
Season record
Pacers: 24-27
Grizzlies: 31-18
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Pacers - Grizzlies preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Pacers: lost 141-131 vs. Bucks
Grizzlies: lost 111-100 at Timberwolves
The Memphis Grizzlies will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, who are just trying to get on track in some regard.
The Memphis Grizzlies will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, who are just trying to get on track in some regard.
Following their 11-game winning streak that ranged from Dec. 31 to Jan. 18, the Grizzlies have lost five straight; three of those games have been decided by two points or less. The latest one was not; a 111-100 loss in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.
Ja Morant recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the way for Memphis, but got no other help along the way. Jaren Jackson Jr. shot 5 of 17 from the floor to finish with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Dillon Brooks had 17 points but shot just 2 of 10 from 3-point range.
But a lot had to be on the minds of the Grizzlies in this one. Moments before the Grizzlies took the court, the video was released of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols being beaten by Memphis police officers.
“There’s way harder things going on in the city versus what’s going on with our basketball right now,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “I’m proud of our guys going out there. As I said before the game, we’re playing with heavy hearts, but we’re also playing for our city that’s going through a lot right now."
“So, it’s hard, but our guys went out there and competed. I told them the last two games, as we’ve been talking about everything that’s been going on in Memphis with the tragedy to Tyre Nichols, we’ve been staying together.”
This five-game losing streak, all during a five-game road trip, has been a “trip of revelations” Jenkins called it, but now they come home for two before taking on the Cavaliers on Feb. 2. But they’re returning home, which is a big deal considering what’s needed to be done for this Western Conference contender to get back on track.
The Pacers have hit freefall mode by losing nine of their last 10 and are coming off a 141-131 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at home on Friday. At least they kept it close in that high-scoring affair, but still had no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his 41 points and 12 rebounds.
“He's as difficult a guy to guard as there is,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “Giannis is very unique, and I don't think there will ever be a player quite like him in this league, maybe ever. He's a beast, just an absolute beast."
Myles Turner — now off a contract extension — had 24 points and five rebounds, and Buddy Hield had 22 points, but defensively they just didn’t have enough in the tank to slow them down, which is very hard to do from that standpoint.
“The starts we've been getting off to have been atrocious,” T.J. McConnell said after finishing with 19 points and nine assists. “It was the pace. When we get out and run and play with pace, we're pretty good. When we can't get a stop, you see what happened in the first half.”
Prediction
Sometimes, it’s a matter of just getting the right team in front of you to get off a slide. The Pacers might be that team for the Grizzlies. Grizzlies 130, Pacers 114
Betting trends
Pacers are 8-12 ATS in non-conference games this season.
Pacers are 17-12 ATS revenging a loss where the opponent scores 110 or more points this season.
Grizzlies are 19-6 ATS against Central Division opponents the last 3 seasons.
Grizzlies are 51-26 ATS against non-conference opponents the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Pacers:
PG: T.J. McConnell
SG: Chris Duarte
SF: Buddy Hield
PF: Aaron Nesmith
C: Myles Turner
Grizzlies:
PG: Ja Morant
SG: Desmond Bane
SF: Dillon Brooks
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
C: Brandon Clarke
Injury report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton (knee, out), Daniel Theis (knee, out)
Grizzlies: Desmond Bane (knee, doubtful), Steven Adams (PCL, out)
Statistical leaders
Pacers:
Points: Tyrese Haliburton -- 20.2
Rebounds: Myles Turner -- 7.9
Assists: Tyrese Haliburton -- 10.2
Grizzlies:
Points: Ja Morant -- 27.3
Rebounds: Steven Adams -- 11.5
Assists: Ja Morant -- 8.1
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Indiana Pacers - Memphis Grizzlies prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
