Grizzlies vs Bucks Odds, Lines & Picks (April 7)
By Quinn Allen in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Grizzlies and Bucks clash on Friday
- Milwaukee is sitting all of their starters here
- Can Memphis take advantage? Read on for the Grizzlies vs Bucks odds and picks
While not all the star power will be on the floor, Friday’s contest between the Memphis Grizzlies (50-30, 15-24 away) and Milwaukee Bucks (58-22, 32-8 home) can be considered a marquee matchup between two contenders. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 PM ET at Fiserv Forum.
Milwaukee just locked up the No. 1 seed in the East on Wednesday with a big 105-92 win over the Chicago Bulls and has now collected three straight victories. The likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez will all rest here.
The Grizzlies meanwhile lost an OT battle with the New Orleans Pelicans most recently without Ja Morant. He’s expected to play in Milwaukee, though.
Grizzlies vs Bucks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Grizzlies | -4.5 (-110) | -190 | OFF |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +4.5 (-110) | +160 | OFF |
The Grizzlies are favored by 4.5 points with moneyline odds of -190. They’ve gone just 13-25 ATS on the road. The Bucks come back at +160 for an implied win probability of 34.48%. Memphis won the only other meeting of 2022-23 against Milwaukee in December.
Odds as of April 6th at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Grizzlies Lock Down Top-3 Seed
With the Nuggets having clinched first place in the West, the Grizz are a lock to finish top three. With just a pair of games left and sitting two ahead of the third-place Kings, runner-up for the second straight campaign looks likely. That means Memphis will face the No. 7 seed from the play-in tournament in the first round of the playoffs.
Taylor Jenkins’ group comes into Friday’s affair with Milwaukee in good shape, posting a 7-3 record in their last 10 outings. However, they’ve lost two of the previous three, blowing a lead against the Chicago Bulls before falling to a divisional rival in the Pels Wednesday.
.@memgrizz status report, April 7 at @Bucks:
DOUBTFUL
Santi Aldama – LT Elbow SorenessOUT
Steven Adams – RT Knee PCL Sprain
Brandon Clarke – LT Achilles Tear
Jake LaRavia – RT Calf Soreness
Ziaire Williams – RT Foot/Ankle Soreness— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) April 6, 2023
Jaren Jackson Jr erupted without Ja, scoring 40 points, while Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks both posted 20+. The Grizzlies absolutely annihilated NOLA inside but the Pels’ managed to stay in this one by shooting 54% from long range. Memphis was outscored 14-7 in the extra period. All the big names are expected to play Friday.
Bucks Preparing for Postseason
These last two games for Milwaukee mean next to nothing, which is why it’s no surprise to see Mike Budenholzer give his stars the night off. Giannis also didn’t play Wednesday due to knee soreness. It’s the same case for Middleton, who appeared to tweak his knee partway through the Chicago game. Considering he’s been dealing with a similar issue throughout the entire campaign, Milwaukee will want to be cautious.
Bobby Portis Jr certainly proved his worth mid-week, balling out for 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Brook Lopez added 26, while Jrue Holiday was dropping dimes, dishing out 15 assists and scoring 20 points.
Home cooking. 🔥
🔢 @wilottery pic.twitter.com/xpqKipfuRl
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 6, 2023
The depth in this Bucks rotation shined through and they are going to get an opportunity to do so again Friday evening. Expect more minutes for players such as Jevon Carter, Jae Crowder, and Wesley Matthews, among others. Milwaukee officially finishes up the regular season on Sunday up north versus the Toronto Raptors.
Grizzlies vs Bucks Prediction
Memphis is close to full strength. The Bucks are not. Even though Milwaukee is phenomenal at Fiserv Forum, I expect the Grizzlies to take care of business and snatch a road victory. They will cover.
Pick: Grizzlies -4.5 (-110)
Sports Writer
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
